Caulfield Cup runner up Scottish is no certain starter in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1.
Scottish, above in the royal blue colours running 2nd to Jameka in the Caulfield Cup at Caufield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Even though Scottish ran a brave second to Jameka in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield last Saturday, the Charlie Appleby trained gelding looks likely to miss the Melbourne Cup and be kept for the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington four days later.
The weight for age Emirates Stakes is the renamed Mackinnon Stakes that has been moved from Derby Day to the last day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Godolphin stable was pleased with the effort of Scottish to finished in the runner’s up stall last Saturday but will probably take the advice of his jockey Kerrin McEvoy who thinks 2000m would suit him better even though he is well up in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.
“Charlie (Appleby) was very happy with his run and thought we should definitely have another crack here, we came here to win races,” Charlie Appleby’s assistant trainer James Ferguson told racing.com.
“He is still in the Melbourne Cup but Kerrin McEvoy had a slight question whether he stays or not and whether ten furlongs (2000m) might be the key with him, as it is back home.”
“The Emirates Stakes is looking more likely than the Melbourne Cup, but he is still in the Melbourne Cup and he is one of ours that is definitely already in, so we will have to have a long think and speak to the team back home.”
In a race that saw the lead change hands several times, McEvoy found himself in front on Scottish at the half way mark and had to the take the Caulfield Cup field up to the home turn and fought on extremely well in the straight to beat all bar the winner Jameka.
Scottish is currently listed as a $26 chance for the Melbourne Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the John O’Shea trained Hartnell as the $5 favourite just ahead of the Caulfield Cup winner Jameka at $6.50.
