Lord Maestro. Photo / Bruno Cannatelli
Defeats on Derby Day ended Melbourne Cup week for three of Kiwi’s big names, but at least three more could still be targeted for Group 1 on Saturday.
Derby runner-up Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Empire Rose’s two unplaced favorites La Crique and She’s Licketysplit are all on a plane to New Zealand on Wednesday, where they will be prepared to return to Australia in autumn.
Co-trainer Katrina Alexander says she was proud of La Crique’s fourth in the Empire Rose and if she goes to Australia as expected in the autumn, it would be for a longer campaign, potentially reaching 2000m.
“James [McDonald, jockey] suggests here, she might actually be a better 2000m horse, so that gives us options next year,” says Alexander.
“We don’t have any plans for her yet and we both still think she won’t be fully mature until next season, so we have something to build on.”
An enthusiastic lunch in Melbourne with the owners of Sharp ‘N’ Smart was not enough to convince trainer Graeme Rogerson to start the Derby runner-up in the A$3 million Champions Stakes on Saturday, so he will also be heading into the paddock .
She’s Licketysplit returns home after a terrific spring campaign, but her two stablemates Mustang Valley and Mr. Maestro could potentially compete for champion stakes.
“We won’t make any decisions until Tuesday when we have a better idea of who is going to accept what races,” coach Andrew Forsman said.
“But it would be a shot at an Australian Group 1 for Mustang Valley, so her owners might be inclined to go that way. They also have two other possible options.
“We can also back Mr. Maestro after his fourth in the Derby. A lot will depend on the strength of the field, but with so many options for top horses nobody knows which race they will enter.
“So we’ll keep our options open with Mr. Maestro, and Mustang Valley will definitely start in one of the big races on Saturday.”
Another newcomer to the carnival will be the Matamata mare Levante, who will take on Nature Strip and Everest winner Giga Kick in the Champions Sprint to Flemington.
But there will be no New Zealand-trained starters in Tuesday’s A$8 million Melbourne Cup, even though six of them were bred here.
Incredibly McDonald, who won the Cup on Verry Elegant last season and is rated the best jockey in the world, will have to watch the Cup from the rider’s room.
He has been left without a Cup ride after his fiancee runner Loft withdrew with a minor leg problem and the eight Cup starters with enough weight for McDonald to ride all committed to jockeys.
● Former NZ 2000 Guineas winner Catalyst has been retired after a poor performance on Saturday at Flemington.
Catalyst has struggled with physical problems over the past two years and will be retired to his old home at Oaks Stud.
