Ebor winner Muntahaa a likely Cup horse
An impressive win from Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in the Ebor H. at York could have seen the John Gosden stayer come to Australia to run in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
The Ebor has been a traditional path for European horses headed to Flemington, with the past two winners Heartbreak City and Nakeeta both subsequently running in the Melbourne Cup.
Muntahaa powered home to win by 3.5L in Europe's richest handicap as Gosden took the quinella with Weekender (GB) (Frankel {GB}) finishing second.
Angus Gold, racing manager to Muntahaa's owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said the horse would be entered for the Cup.
"If (Melbourne Cup) entries haven't closed yet, we'll put him in. Whether he'd take to it mentally with the hustle and bustle, I don't know."
Last-year's winner Nakeeta (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) finished seventh, while the favourite Stratum (GB) (Dansili {GB}) enjoyed no luck at finished 12th, nearly ten lengths from the winner.
Payne follows sister's success
Andrew Payne is hoping he might have a Victoria Derby prospect with impressive debut winner I'm Dun Dreamin' (Dundeel {NZ}.
I'm Dun Dreamin' charged home from the rear of the field to win a 1500m maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday at massive odds, much to the delight of his owners who include Payne's sister Cathy.
In a real family affair, Payne's sister Michelle, who claimed her first metropolitan success as a trainer on Saturday, trained the third-place getter Mark The Horse (Warrior's Reward {USA}).
Payne bought I'm Dun Dreamin' for $82,500 at the 2017 Melbourne Premier Sale. His dam's family includes Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars and South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha.
"As we all do, there are 200-300 horses aimed towards the Derby, but we did earmark that race for where we’d like to go, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge," Payne said.
Bell praise for exponential Graff
Owner Allan Bell has backed trainer Kris Lees's assessment of boom colt Graff (Star Witness (Aus)} saying he has never owned a 3-year-old colt with as much ability.
Graff raced into favouritism for the G1 Golden Rose with an emphatic win in the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill on Saturday, with Lees saying he was the best colt he had trained.
Speaking to Sky Sports Radio on Sunday, Bell was also effusive in his praise of the star, who he confirmed would step through the G3 Run To the Rose on September 8 on his way to the Golden Rose.
"He could be as good as I have had, and I've been feeling that but scared to say it, but I think it’s come out after yesterday," Bell said.
Rogerson toasts Trans Tasman treble
Legendary trainer Graeme Rogerson enjoyed success in two countries over the weekend.
Rogerson, under the Team Rogerson banner with wife Debbie and grand-daughter Bailey, won two races at Te Aroha, and then watched on as the mare he owns (Our) Malambo (Duelled {Aus}) won at Moonee Valley for Chris Waller.
“We’ve made a pretty good start to the season with a double last weekend and another one on Saturday,” he said.
He was particularly pleased with former G1 Sydney Cup winner Gallante's (Ire) (Monjeu {Ire}) win in his debut over hurdles.
“No matter what happens he is a candidate for all the big jumps races in Australia next year, so we have plenty to look forward to in his new role,” he said.
