South Africa’s Gitano Hernando is being aimed at this year’s Melbourne Cup after winning the $2.27 million Singapore Cup last Sunday.

Racing Victoria’s international recruitment officer Leigh Jordan was in Singapore for the race and is in discussions with Gitano Hernando’s trainer, Herman Brown, to bring the horse over for the $6 million race.

Mr Jordan believes that the Singapore Cup victory was a crucial one for Gitano Hernado.

“This is an important win looking ahead to the Spring Racing Carnival,” Mr Jordon said.

Trainer Herman Brown has enjoyed Melbourne Cup success before, with Mourilyan finishing third in 2009.

“Herman enjoyed his trip to Melbourne two years ago and has always said he’d be back with the right horse,” Mr Jordan said.

“Gitano Hernando looks like that horse and the prospects are good at this stage.”

Brown now believes that Gitano Hernando could be the horse to give him his first Melbourne Cup win.

“Despite winning a 2000-metre weight-for-age race tonight, Herman has been of the opinion that Gitano Hernando would be best suited to the Emirates Melbourne Cup and he could be right,” Mr Jordan said.

Mr Jordan also sought out the likes of River Jetez, who finished second to Gitano Hernando in Sunday’s Singapore Cup.

“I’ve spoken previously with Mike about River Jetez coming to Melbourne and she showed tonight that she’s a top class mare who would be suited to a race like the Tatts Cox Plate,” Mr Jordan said. said.

Another international horse that will be aimed at this year’s Cox Plate is Xtension, who won the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong last month.

“(Trainer John Moore) confirmed for me tonight that Xtension is being set for the Tatts Cox Plate,” Mr Jordon said.

“He’s even considering coming over earlier and contesting races like the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley in the build up to the Cox Plate which will be great for the Carnival.”