Au Revoir will take his place in the 2014 Melbourne Cup field and co-owner Terry Henderson is expecting the European-trained stayer to produce an improved performance at Flemington on Tuesday.
Au Revoir was well-backed in the lead-up to his Australian racing debut in the Group 3 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on October 25 and he took up the running in the early stages of the race, but he did not have the turn-of-foot to go with Prince Of Penzance and Le Roi in the final stages of the race.
Henderson said that he was satisfied with the run of Au Revoir in the Moonee Valley Cup and he revealed at the 2014 Melbourne Cup barrier draw yesterday that the talented stayer had taken plenty of benefit out of the run.
“A lot of improvement has come out of that run,” Henderson said.
“We have seen the horse run this week and train on.
“He looks tighter, the boys from France really like the way that he has been moving and he worked yesterday with Gatewood and they both worked very well.
“Again we are looking for big improvement, but he is a roll horse and he will need to come across, he won’t go out the back.”
Veteran jockey Glyn Schofield gave up a full book of rides at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday to ride in the Melbourne Cup for the first time since he partnered Unusual Suspect in the 2012 edition of the race.
Schofield flew to Melbourne to partner Au Revoir in his final piece of serious trackwork before the Melbourne Cup and he told TVN this morning that he was happy with the feel he received from the Singspiel entire heading into ‘the race that stops a nation’ at Flemington on Tuesday.
“I’m sure he’s tightened up since that run in the Moonee Valley Cup and he’s trained by a master of Europe,” Schofield said.
“There’s a lot to like about him and he’s a lovely animal.
“He has a really good temperament and I liked his work.”
Schofield has only previously had three rides in the Melbourne Cup and he achieved his best result when he steered European stayer Mourilyan to a third place finish behind Shocking and Crime Scene in 2009.
Au Revoir is currently available at the lengthy 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $67, while Admire Rakti ($5.50) remains favourite from Lucia Valentina ($7.50), Protectionist ($7.50) and Fawkner ($9.50).