The international countdown to the spring carnival continues this weekend with two races in the UK and two in France likely to play a role in determining more Melbourne visitors.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The highlight of the international action is the G1 Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday, featuring former Australian triple G1 winner Sea Siren who is now trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien.
French mare Moonlight Cloud, who almost upset Black Caviar at Royal Ascot last year, is aiming for her third straight win in the race.
Her clash with current UK sprint star Lethal Force, a dual G1 winner at his last two starts in the UK in the Diamond Jubilee and July Cup, will certainly show if he is worthy of a trip to Melbourne.
Racing Victoria's Leigh Jordon says Lethal Force's trainer Clive Cox has already indicated his interest in bringing the horse to Melbourne to contest the penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Challenge series, the G1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.
“Clive Cox will make a final decision following Sunday's race,” Jordon said.
"It will be interesting to see how Lethal Force measures up against Moonlight Cloud as well as Sea Siren."
The other race at Deauville that hold spring interest is the G3 Prix de Reux (2500m).
“This race is being run at Group level for the first time after being promoted from Listed status and could have a potential bearing on the spring,” Jordon said..
“In last year's edition Brigantin finished runner-up before going to Australia where he finished third in the Geelong Cup before succumbing to injury.
“Creating the most interest from an Australian point of view will be the OTI Racing pair Au Revoir and Montclair who are both trained by master French trainer Andre Fabre.”
The G3 Glorious Stakes (2400m) at Goodwood on Friday night was won by the Nicky Henderson-trained Forgotten Voice, who ran home strongly under John Murtagh to beat the Godolphin stayer Lost In The Moment.
Lost In The Moment has already campaigned in Melbourne twice previously and may be considered for a third spring campaign after this effort
Godolphin's Masterstroke made his seasonal reappearance for trainer Charlie Appleby but struggled over the two furlongs and would need to make considerable improvement to warrant trip to Australia.
The G1 Nassau Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood on Saturday will feature Godolphin mare Sajjhaa, who has been invited to Melbourne for the Cox Plate.
Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, Sajjhaa has been in scintillating form earlier in the year winning multiple Group races in Dubai culminating in a strong victory in the G1 Dubai Duty Free over 1800m.
She then went to Hong Kong and was a close up fourth in the G1 QE II Cup over 2000m behind Military Attack.
“A positive performance on Saturday may hopefully see her on the plane to Melbourne,” Jordon said.
