Melbourne Cup Off The Cards For Talented English Mare

Connections of English racehorse Meeznah have ruled out bringing the mare to Australia for a run in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup in November.

Four-year-old Meeznah will now either run at France’s Longchamp, England’s Ascot or in the Breeders’ Cup in America.

The David Lanigan-trained mare won her last race in the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse by a margin of three and a half lengths.

“We’re still thinking about where to run her,” Lanigan said.

“She came out of her last race at Doncaster in good order.

“She’s back cantering and doing everything fine.

“We’ve definitely ruled out going to the Melbourne Cup.

“She’s entered at Ascot and she’s entered in France. The ground would be the worry at this time of year, it could go against her.

“She’s also got the option of going for the Breeders’ Cup.

“The Filly and Mare race is over one mile three (2200m) which I think would be a bit too short for her, so the mile-and-a-half (2400m) race on the turf would probably be the only option for her.

“She’s a Group Three and a Group Two winner now so she’s earned her chance to go for a Group One.

“The owners are very sporting people and that is what they would like to do.

“We’ll just have to see how things go, but she’s in good form.

“This can be a difficult time for fillies so we’ll have to see how we get on.”

Meeznah’s Group 3 win came in the Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood in July.

 

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