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Pressure building as Cup approaches

Deauville Legend has ticked every box in his preparation towards the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer : JAMES FERGUSON.
Trainer : JAMES FERGUSON. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

'Pressure is for tyres' but UK trainer James Ferguson admits he can feel it building as the Melbourne Cup draws close. 

Ferguson prepares the TAB's $3.60 Cup favourite Deauville Legend who is the only horse under $11 less than 48 hours out from 3200m contest at Flemington

"They say pressure is for tyres, but I am feeling it a little bit, but that's just nerves to do well," he said. 

"I've been happy with the horse since I came out here. He's got into a nice routine snd he's matured mentally since he's been here. 

"We've ticked all the boxes so far and two days out the nerves are starting to build a little bit. 

"We're very lucky. I'm just incredibly grateful for the support of Mr Bon Ho who has given us this horse so early in my career. 

"He's a huge international owner and to get a Melbourne Cup win for him would be a dream." 

While two of the favoured runners lost their positions in the Cup last week, one through injury and another following a CT scan that revealed the potential of injury, Ferguson does not subscribe to the theory it has made Deauville Legend's task any easier. 

"It's the pinnacle Group 1 of the world and you want to see the best horses running," Ferguson said. 

"The Caulfield Cup is one of the top races leading into the Melbourne Cup and I feel for Harry (Herbert) and the Highclere team and Chris Waller (Durston). 

"Loft had come a long way, and no-one deserves to come all this way and not run, so from our point of view, there may be less at that top end of the betting that are not running, but I think it's a real shame they're not here." 

Deauville Legend still has 23 opponents, but in his favour is barrier nine and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy

Already a winner of three Melbourne Cups, a fourth will see McEvoy join Bobbie Lewis and Harry White as the jockey with the most wins in the Cup. 

"Kerrin McEvoy is full of experience," Ferguson said. 

"We know him well, he knows the horse well. 

"He'd be one of the top jockeys in the world having won the race three times and has vast experience at Flemington itself. 

"Genuinely going into a Melbourne Cup, there is no-one better to have on your horse." 


Racing and Sports



Flemington Tuesday, 01st November 2022

1m7f200y TURF SOFT
AUD $7,750,000

Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)

AUD $7,750,000
Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
1m7f200y TURF SOFT
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. GOLD TRIP (FR) 5yo H
OUTSTRIP (GB) - SARVANA (FR)
MARK ZAHRA
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$21
57.5kg
Australian Bloodstock, J Woodbridge, Whitegate Pastoral, Roth Brogan Syndicate, Gold Trip, Surf Coast Racing, S Pellegrino, B Taylor, M Belford, J Garvey, N Greenhalgh, Mrs M Greenhalgh, C Madden, Mystery Downs, C Cook, B Nally, Werrett Bloodstock, L Caminiti & J Simmons

Sales Information

2nd 17. EMISSARY (GB) 5yo G
KINGMAN (GB) - SOVIET MOON (IRE)
PATRICK MOLONEY
MICHAEL MORONEY
$26
51.5kg
Ballymore Stables (Aust) P/L, R & C Legh Racing P/L, Pulitano Thoroughbreds P/L, Gee Gee Equine Ltd, R A Duke, J Bartolo, R Ford, F Brown, Ms A Bergin, A Panozzo, C & Mrs L Talbot, D Smith, M Nees, L Deady, Mrs S Cummings, A Ring & Union Road Racing (Mgr: M J Catanzariti)

Sales Information

3rd 22. HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) 6yo M
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - HIGH JOY (NZ)
TEODORE NUGENT
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$41
50kg
D J Molloy, M A Milano, C L Brettschneider, Wilawl Go Racing, A J Rosano, A J Thompson, I F B S Group, Proline Thoroughbreds No.2, G L Orr, R B Grace, M W Ridgway, M J Hayward, Buangor Bunch, G T G Racing, G Ingram, C G Taylor, B A Quinn, R J Taylor, Mrs D M Molloy & B J Molloy

Sales Information

4th 8. DEAUVILLE LEGEND (IRE) 3yo G
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - SOHO ROSE (IRE)
KERRIN MCEVOY
JAMES FERGUSON
$4
55kg

Sales Information

5th 24. REALM OF FLOWERS (AUS) 6yo M
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - ASTRAL FLOWER (GB)
DAMIEN THORNTON
A & S FREEDMAN
$8
50kg

Sales Information

6th 14. DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) 5yo G
SWEET ORANGE (USA) - PAULETTE (NZ)
DANIEL MOOR
PHILLIP STOKES
$61
53kg

Sales Information

7th 19. SMOKIN' ROMANS (NZ) 6yo G
GHIBELLINES (AUS) - INFERNO (NZ)
JAMIE KAH
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$17
51.5kg

Sales Information

8th 9. STOCKMAN (NZ) 6yo G
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - CRIMSON (NZ)
SAM CLIPPERTON
JOSEPH PRIDE
$16
54kg

Sales Information

9th 3. KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) 7yo G
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - LAMANKA LASS (USA)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$18
55.5kg

Sales Information

10th 10. VOW AND DECLARE (AUS) 7yo G
DECLARATION OF WAR (USA) - GEBLITZT (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
DANNY O'BRIEN
$21
54.5kg

Sales Information

11th 16. ARAPAHO (FR) 5yo G
LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - ALZUBRA (GB)
RACHEL KING
BJORN BAKER
$61
52.5kg

Sales Information

12th 12. HOO YA MAL (GB) 3yo C
TERRITORIES (IRE) - SENSATIONALLY (GB)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$13
53.5kg

Sales Information

13th 6. WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) 5yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - KHOR SHEED (GB)
WILLIAM BUICK
SIMON & ED CRISFORD
$12
55.5kg

Sales Information

14th 15. GRAND PROMENADE (GB) 6yo G
CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) - ZACCHERA (GB)
HARRY COFFEY
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$71
53kg

Sales Information

15th 11. YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) 5yo G
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - ROMANTIC TIME (NZ)
DAMIAN LANE
DANNY O'BRIEN
$31
54kg

Sales Information

16th 4. MONTEFILIA (AUS) 5yo M
KERMADEC (NZ) - BANA WU (GB)
JASON COLLETT
DAVID PAYNE
$9.5
55.5kg

Sales Information

17th 20. TRALEE ROSE (NZ) 6yo M
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - STAR OF TRALEE (NZ)
DEAN YENDALL
SYMON WILDE
$51
51.5kg

Sales Information

18th 2. DUAIS (AUS) 5yo M
SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) - MEERLUST (AUS)
HUGH BOWMAN
EDWARD CUMMINGS
$21
55.5kg
19th 5. NUMERIAN (IRE) 6yo G
HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) - DELICATE CHARM (IRE)
TOMMY BERRY
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$61
55.5kg
20th 13. SERPENTINE (IRE) 5yo G
GALILEO (IRE) - REMEMBER WHEN (IRE)
JOHN ALLEN
ROBERT HICKMOTT
$26
53.5kg
21st 7. CAMORRA (IRE) 5yo G
ZOFFANY (IRE) - MAURALAKANA (FR)
BEN MELHAM
BEN & JD HAYES
$41
55kg

Sales Information

FF 23. INTERPRETATION (IRE) 4yo H
GALILEO (IRE) - DALDIYNA (FR)
CRAIG NEWITT
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$51
50kg

Sales Information

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