Brown Panther and Mount Athos were the two international horses to step up their Melbourne Cup preparations at Werribee today with strong workouts.
Brown Panther has been one of the eye catchers since his arrival at Werribvee and today was given his first serious piece of work following the arrival from the UK trainer Tom Dascombe and Cup jockey Richard Kingscote.
With Kingscote aboard Brown Panther cantered off from the 1400m over one lap of the track and on the second time around picked up his speed to work strongly.
He was pushed to the line by Kingscote in his strongest piece of work so far.
Dascombe said Brown Panther's training schedule has been dictated by his well being as he is a big horse with a gross appetite.
“We have trained the horse around his feed bowl”, said Dascombe.
Craig Williams made another trip to Werribee to handle his Cup ride Mount Athos[ in his work for Luca Cumani.
It was far more serious workout than the exercise Williams gave Mount Athos earlier in the week with the stayer being led of a pony for a trot and canter from the 1200m to the winning post before he was left to work alone.
Williams picked him up from the 1600m with Mount Athos going to the line strongly in the latter stages of his gallop.
“He really enjoyed himself and really ran through to line nicely”, Williams said.
Tommy Berry was also on hand to work his Gai Waterhouse-trained Cup ride ]n]Tres Bleu[/n] with Waterhouse watching his every move from the stand.
Tres Bleu did a lap under Berry from the winning and stepped up nicely to the line before the jockey was replacved in the saddle by his usual track rider Ryan Prendergast who took the import off for another two laps at a lioght canter.
“He pinned his ears back and found the line well. He's quite fit”, said Berry.
Waterhouse was beaming and says she loves the attitude of the young French stayer.
“Nothing fazes him”, Waterhouse said.
Wednesday training reports from Racing Victoria on the other Melbourne Cup imports at Werribee:
DANDINO: Cantered 2000m under track rider Paul Francis who indicated the stable is well satisfied with him since his Caulfield Cup second.
SIMENON: Returned to work at Werribee today after his outing at Flemington yesterday where he realy took to the course. Cantered a slow lap today before a couple of quicker laps.
RED CADEAUX: Light canter over a lap and was stronger down the straight.
DUNADEN: Trotted a lap and then cantered over a mile under a hold. Faster work expected tomorrow or Friday.
VEREMA: Trotted a lap then cantered a mile before cantering another easy 1000m.
VOLEUSE DE COUERS: Cantered two miles with Mike Moroney on hand. The mare has put on 11kg since arriving at Werribee.
ROYAL EMPIRE=: A light canter over 1400m then another slower 1400m left his trainer Saeed bin Suroor “very pleased”.
FORGOTTEN VOICE: Cantered two miles. Looking fitter after his Geelong Cup run.
CARAVAN ROLLS ON: Stronger piece of work with canters from the 1400m twice and stronger to the line the second time.
RUSCELLO: Walked a lap of the track then a light canter over 1400m.
