Prominent American owner Earle Mack has purchased the Marco Botti trained Dylan Mouth for the sole purpose of running in the 2017 Group 1 $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7.
Almandin, above, winning the 2016 Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Botti, who trains out of Newmarket in England, has produced Dylan Mouth for two of his thirteen wins from twenty-five starts and Mack considers the six year old stayer to be a promising prospect for the Melbourne Cup.
“I’m excited to compete in the ‘race that stops a nation’,” Mack told the Thoroughbred Daily News this week.
“It’s the fourth time I’ve competed and I’m not giving up easily.”
Dylan Mouth began his career in Italy when prepared by Stefano Botti and after winning the 2015 Group 1 €242,000 Premio Roma GBI Racing (2000m) at Capannelle in Italy, was transferred to Marco Botti at Newmarket
Mack is excited about returning to Melbourne for the 2017 Spring Carnival after having been there as an owner with Melbourne Cup runners on three previous occasions with Manighar, who finished seventh in 2010 and fifth in 2011 and with Mad Rush who ran seventh in 2008.
“The most exciting thrill was when I had the favourite, Mad Rush,” Mack said.
“Every day it was a front-page story on the equivalent of the New York Times. They have parades and dinners, they import entertainers from America. It’s in their culture, and in their blood. The atmosphere is electric. “It’s so exciting, and all anybody talks about is the Melbourne Cup, and of course it carries a very substantial purse.”
Dylan Mouth was back in the winner’s stall last start at the juicy odds of 25-1 in the Old Newton Cup Handicap over 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Haydock in England on July 8.
Early betting for the 2017 Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au has Dylan Mouth listed as a $34 chance while fellow English stayer Francis Of Assisi shares favouritism at $17 with Red Cardinal from Germany and Japanese stayer Admire Deus.
Early market order for the 2017 Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $17 Red Cardinal, Admire Deus, Francis Of Assisi, $21 Cheval Grand, Frontierman, Thomas Hobson, Ventura Storm, $26 Almandin, Beautiful Romance, Big Duke, Bondi Beach, Bonneval, Crocodile Rock, Gingernuts, Humidor, Manatee, Oceanographer, Our Century, Polarisation, Vazirabad, $31 Rekindling, Winx, $34 Amralah, Eleonora, Order Of St George, Exospheric Hans Holbein, Hartnell, Qewy, St Michel, Tiamo Grace, Wall Of Fire, $41 or better the rest.
