Australian Bloodstock’s newly acquired Mustajeer strengthened his chances for the 2019 Melbourne Cup and shortened up considerably in the betting after outstaying his rivals to win the £1 million Ebor Handicap (1 mile, 5 furlongs, 188 yards) at York in England last Saturday.
Cross Counter, above, shares Melbourne Cup favouritism with Marmelo. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Mustajeer was sent out at the good odds of 16-1 for the Ebor Handicap and produced a strong staying performance at his last run for Irish trainer Ger Lyons before being sent to Australia for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees to prepare him for the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Mustajeer has firmed in from $51 to be sharing the second line of betting at $21 with Master Of Reality at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $8m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett said that Mustajeer would also be likely to run in the Group 1 $5.15m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 and is now marked at $17 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Australian Bloodstock owned Raheen House was sent out as the 5-1 favourite for the Ebor Handicap and even though he could only finish ninth, he will still be on the plane with Mustajeer bound for Australia.
“Both will be headed towards the Melbourne Cup but we will have to decide if we go Caulfield Cup then Melbourne,” Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett told Racenet.
“Mustajeer will I would say as he looks a Caulfield Cup type horse but we will have to assess it.”
“I was obviously thrilled with the horse winning but I thought the other horse ran well too.
“Obviously (Mustajeer) started 20-1 but we thought he was a genuine each way chance. It was a bonus to see him run up to expectations.
“I think he is the right sort of horse for Australia. Certainly that was faster ground last night and that’s always the query with these northern hemisphere horses, seeing how they handle out track conditions.
“Based on that, talking to the riders after they thought it was a very fast track and he certainly let down all right. It’s a good sign going forward.”
Raheen House is marked at $31 for both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup quinella Cross Counter and Marmelo are the $17 joint favourite’s for this year’s running of the famous two miler while the James Cummings trained Avilius holds a slender lead at the top of the Caulfield Cup markets at $15 just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Verry Elleegant at $16.
Early 2019 Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au: $17 Cross Counter, Marmelo, $21 Master Of Reality, Mustajeer, $26 Avilius, Buckhurst, Dee Ex Bee, Ispolini, Latrobe, Torcedor, Raymond Tusk, Rostropovich, Steel Prince, $31 Spanish Mission, Falcon Eight, A Prince Of Arran, Finche, Gold Mount, Kew Gardens, Spanish Mission, King Of Leogrance, Verry Elleegant, $41 Django Freeman, , Southern France, Downdraft, Johannes Vermeer, Mr Quickie, Raa Atoli, Surprise Baby, Vow And Declare, Withhold, Yucatan, $51 or better the rest.
