There was a fair bit of movement in the odds with Kiseki actually jumping as favourite ($3.60). Kiseki led most of the way - and well into the straight - before Lys Gracieux ($5.40) took over and cantered away with it. On board was Aussie Damian Lane. Kiseki held second place 3 lengths back and two ahead of Suave Richard in 3rd. It was the second fastest running over this course/distance since 1993 (which is how far wikipedia results go back to).

Watch the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNA9yh0Jga8

The Takarazuka Kinen may not be a Melbourne Cup qualifying race, but Kiseki came 2nd in the Japan Cup late last year - which is, given it's a G1 2400m - earning over $7mil. If they want in The Cup then a start would be pretty much assured.

He looks to have changed his running style, perhaps with an Australian tilt in mind. His early races saw him running towards the rear, whereas the last few have had him lead. Kiseki also looks comfortable on tracks that aren't the typical Japanese Firm: that 3000m victory mentioned previously was on a heavy turf track.

I think he might be slightly better suited to the Cox and Caulfield, but the extra entry fees for the Melbourne Cup wouldn't be a problem: why not all three!

A little bit of action overseas for potential foreign raiders:

There were some qualifying races in Italy and the USA (the Premio Gran Premio Di Milano and the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, respectively) but it's unlikely any candidates were racing there.


A more likely source is Friday's Comer Group International Curragh Cup, a Group 2 2800m. Winners in past years have included Rekindling (2017) and Red Cadeaux (2011). There's currently a field of 19 though this includes several Dual Acceptors and it appears a max of 14 will make it to the gates. Twelve of the 19 horses are trained by O'Briens; 10 are sired by Galileo.

The "name horse" in the field is Latrobe who, of course, is owned by the Williams Team and was shipped to Australia to run in last year's Cup. They eventually elected not to run him there due to the horse's immaturity, instead contesting the McKinnon Stakes where Latrobe was a narrow 2nd.

Capri and Southern France have the highest ratings going into the race though there are plenty of challengers early on in their careers amongst the field. This includes Kangaroo Valley, who won a 2400m maiden by 8 lengths on Sunday (with a further 8 lengths back to third).

Barbados is back after his second placing in the Queen's Vase and Raa Atoll returns from his US trip hoping to get back on track for his owner (and sponsor of the race).


Back at Curragh on Saturday is the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, a 2400m Group 1 for 3yos. Latrobe won this race last year and Capri the year before. Anthony Van Dyck and Broome from Coolmore are at the top of betting currently, with Shadwell Racing's Madhmoon also under $4.

There have been a few stories of late regarding the penalisation of northern hemisphere 3 year olds in the Melbourne Cup this year (despite the information clearly appearing in the race conditions upon release over a month ago) so it will be interesting if any challengers come out of this race.


Also this weekend are the following qualifying races:

• Oslo Cup (2400m Group 3)
• Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud (2400m Group 1)
• Prix De Malleret (also at Saint-Cloud over 2400m but a Group 2 for 3yo fillies)
• Pferdewetten.De Grosser Hansa-Preis (2400m Group 2; Protectionist won in 2014 and 2016)

Looking at Melbourne Cup futures betting at Ladbrokes: Cross Counter is shortest at $15 with overseas winners Master of Reality ($16) and Amade ($21) next in line.

Raa Atoll is misspelt (Raa Atoli) at $34 and they're remarkably bullish regarding the chances of Libran ($201) given that he was sadly euthanised after a track accident earlier this month.

Comer Group International Curragh Cup
(Group 2 2800m)

Latrobe held most of the race interest - certainly from a future Melbourne Cup perspective - but finished a narrow second to Twilight Payment, a former Godolphin horse. TP had previously finished 2nd to Order of St George on two occasions and within 3 lengths of Rekindling in his winning year. He had come into the Curragh Cup winning the Listed Levmoss Stakes over the same distance, so was showing good form.

After that race his trainer Jim Bolger was reported as saying: "The better horses have been running well over the last six weeks and any little step up on that was helpful. He'd a good run at Navan the last day. He could go for the Curragh Cup and maybe Melbourne later in the year. He's been a good servant and is nothing if not consistent".

Interestingly, the horse he beat in that Stakes race - Falcon Eight (who Racing Victoria's GM of International Operations revealed today is on their Melbourne Cup wishlist) - is listed at $26 now on Sportsbet for the Melbourne Cup. In the race prior he was within two lengths of Master of Reality, who's at $21. Twilight Payment doesn't feature in that list (or Ladbroke's or TAB's), but it was noted in several articles I've read that he's at $51.

They're now likely to aim him at the St Leger trials (16th August) and then the St Leger Stakes (14th September) - 7 weeks out from The Cup. Plenty of time to make an attempt here, given that a horse must spend 2 weeks in quarantine prior to travel, followed by a further 2 weeks at Werribee.

Watch the race here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/ondemand/34577


Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
(2400m Group 1 for 3yos)

Latrobe won this race last year. Anthony Van Dyck and Broome were at the top of early betting here and they're still listed quite highly in Cup futures (both $26 at TAB). They got whacked in this race though by another Coolmore/Aidan O'Brien runner - Sovereign, at odds - who put 6 lengths on the others.

He went out to a huge early lead and the field could make very little in-road, with some calling it a betting sting. He did win his maiden by 14 lengths, so has talent, but his record appears very inconsistent.

Watch the race here: https://youtu.be/SRAyZpPD9BU


There might be an interesting prospect from another race on the same program: Buckhurst, who took out the 2000m International Stakes. Trained by Joseph O'Brien and owned by Lloyd Williams. Johannes Vermeer won the same race in 2017. As did Yucatan last year. Looks a good'n and is at $101 at Ladbroke's.


Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud
(2400m Group 1)

Last year's Cup's second placegetter Marmelo finished 4 lengths back in 5th without threatening, just behind the Grand Prix de Chantilly winner Aspetar. Out in front was Coronet, closely followed by Ziyad and Lah Ti Dar. It was 36 degrees there the day before. Watch the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gQLBrP01jw


Square de Luynes won the Oslo Cup (2400m Group 3). Race fave Mehdaayih won the Prix De Malleret (2400m Group 2 for 3yo fillies) and another fave in French King authoritatively won the Grosser Hansa-Preis (2400m Group 2).


Coming up this weekend are the qualifying races the Lancashire Oaks and Deutsches Derby, both for 3 year olds and likely not of a standard to warrant the trip here.


Looking at Futures markets, Godolphin's Ispolini is a horse that seems to be a quiet overachiever. On Ladbroke's he's at $21, the second line of betting, alongside Marmelo, Master of Reality and Torcedor (who missed his flight to Melbourne last year on reporting an elevated temperature). I haven't found any news saying he's coming, but he previously had an entry in this year's Sydney Cup. After winning the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (check out the finish: https://youtu.be/Tf0mhcEXq7Y?t=156) he elected to remain in Dubai for the Gold Cup instead, finishing 1.25L behind Cross Counter and way ahead of Gold Mount and Prince of Arran. That was back in March and he's since finished 7 lengths behind Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup Stakes.

Channel 10 have won the broadcast rights for The Melbourne Cup this year (along with some supporting Spring Carnival meetings) and have just announced that they'll also be showing some international meetings in the lead-up. I guess that the idea is to highlight potential runners so that those imports who do come don't quite feel like randoms to local audiences. Doubtless this programming would have been in concert with Racing Victoria's own International Operations section and based upon their foreign raider hit-list. There might be some leads for those who like to trade in futures markets.

Upcoming international meetings that will be shown on Channel Ten are:

• Group I Coral Eclipse meeting (July 6)
• Group I July Cup meeting (July 13)
• Gordon Stakes meeting at Goodwood (August 3)
• Ebor Handicap meeting (August 24)
• Group I Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and Group I The Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (September 28)
• ARC meeting (Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) - (7 Group I's) (October 6)
• British Champions day meeting (October 19)

Falcon Eight is still at $26 (up to $31 at Ladbroke's) despite his win this weekend in The Escher Stakes (3264m). His trainer Dermot Weld said after the run:

"That was only the fifth race of his life. I look forward to training him for the next couple of years, that’s why I’m in no hurry this year. There is a big race in this horse.

"He has got a big future ahead of him, as he is just a work in progress. I think he will go all the way to a Group One in time. The Melbourne Cup would be under consideration, but whether this year comes too soon, we will see how he progresses in the autumn".

He was in a tight dual with Mekong, the pair putting 4 lengths on the rest of the field. Racing Victoria's handicapper Greg Carpenter was also impressed by his performance: "Another step taken by Falcon Eight on the road to the 2019 Melbourne Cup winning the Marathon Stakes over 2 miles @Sandown overnight for Dermot Weld and ridden by @FrankieDettori".

Also on the Sandown program - the first of Channel 10's international racing broadcasts leading towards The Melbourne Cup - was the Eclipse, a 2000m Group 1 race that saw the triumphant return of Enable. Joining her in the field was Zabeel Prince who Paul Bloodworth, Racing Victoria’s general manager of international operations, had previously name-dropped as a potential raider flying under the radar. Odd choice, as he came last in this field of eight and with a record that looks like he'll struggle to make any distance over 1800m.

Wells Farhh Go was another of Bloodworth's nominees and seems a likelier candidate, resuming this season in a Listed 2400m and winning by 4 lengths in late June.


At Sunday's Deutsches Derby in Hamburg, a Group 1 for 3yos over 2400m, the Australian-connected (Suman Hedge Bloodstock) horse Django Freeman came second. Apparently he'll soon be on his way to Robert Hickmott, following much the same path as Schabau took: who is 3 from 3 in his Australian runs since arriving this Summer. They're going to assess how best to time Django Freeman's journey with a view of setting him for a Spring target: both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have been mentioned as possibilities. Today's race was his first over the distance and - per the radio call - he finished off strongly.

Entries for the Ebor Cup closed this past week. Among the 81 horses are Melbourne Cup possibles Prince of Arran, Falcon Eight, Gold Mount, Latrobe, Red Verdon, Thomas Hobson, Wells Farhh Go and Withhold. Max Dynamite is still kicking around in the entrants as a 9 year old! It's a handicap with weights to be released on July 24th, one month ahead of the race itself. The prizemoney has doubled this year up to the 1 million pound mark so will attract a very strong field. Current full entrants list here: https://www.racingpost.com/racecard...19-08-24/734038


In qualifying races,there was the John Smith's Silver Cup Stakes this past weekend at York over the Ebor course/distance. Red Verdon (at $21) won the race in a tight finish against Gold Mount and Raheen House. Check out the finish here: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_vid...NMcsVrRHI_E.mp4

Marmelo missed out by a nose on defending his crown in the Maurice De Nieuil Stakes, a Group 2 2800m at Longchamp. Way To Paris took the win, with the pair of them putting 4 lengths on 3rd. Marmelo's connections put in a protest, watch the race to see if it was warranted: https://youtu.be/JUYbtGgguiI

Later on the same program, Japan (the horse) was the winning $1.40 favourite in the Juddmonte Grand Prix De Paris Stakes, a Group 1 2400m race for three year olds. Kew Gardens won this race last season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8wa6QNpIts

I've been a little slack on the news front the past couple of weeks, but couldn't miss today's announcement of nominees for the Cox Plate: https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/rv/2...ate-nominations.

187 horses have put their name forward; up from 135 last year.

Rostropovich, Youngstar, Ventura Storm, Ace High, Avilius and Red Cardinal were all 2018 Cox Plate nominees that went on to make the Melbourne Cup startlist.

Aidan O'Brien has nominated 11 horses, 8 of these are Northern Hemisphere 3 year olds (SH 4yo), including the exciting Japan. His son Joseph has 4, including Buckhurst, Latrobe and Master of Reality. Liam Howley's nominated Johannes Vermeer and Yucatan, among others.

From Japan they have Lys Gracieu and Meiner Fanrong coming. From France, Australian Bloodstock's Danceteria

Django Freeman will be coming over from Germany to Robert Hickmott, as expected.

Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie is among the nominees, as is the Queensland Oaks winner Winning Ways, and All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey.

Chris Waller unsurprisingly has the most nominees with 23, including: Finche, Verry Elleegant and Youngstar. Hayes & Dabernig have nominated 22.


Nominees for the Melbourne Cup should be released on August 29th. The race itself is only 90 days away.

2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling has been retired to stud. He didn't race for 18 months following that victory, due to a tendon injury. His only subsequent race was the Australian Cup earlier this year in which he finished last.

Last year's winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy (who also won in 2000 and 2016) is getting a statue built in his honour in his hometown of Streaky Bay. This was announced during his visit as an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup tour. You can see all tour dates here: https://www.flemington.com.au/melbo...bourne-cup-tour

French import Azuro won the Listed 3200m Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm. That performance hasn't moved the bookies much though: he's still $101 in futures. Probably overs on ability given some tight tussles with Steel Prince ($31) last year and an encouraging record over the Cup distance: 2 wins and 1 placing (0.2L) from his 3 runs. Steel Prince though, of course, won a ballot exemption through winning the Andrew Ramsden. Speaking of, rumours went wild as the payment of prizemoney for the race was delayed. The money was held up waiting on swab results, which led to speculation of an overturning of places. The runner-up Surprise Baby was reported to have been best backed with bookmakers in the preceding weeks. It wasn't until late July that the swabs - and Steel Prince - were given the all-clear.

Also late last month was the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 1 2400m at Ascot. Enable and Crystal Ocean fought out a huge battle, with the pair and 3rd placegetter Waldgeist putting quite a margin on the rest of the field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJyfXL3ICKg. No chance of seeing the first two here, but a couple of the also-rans from Aidan O'Brien have nominated for the Cox Plate: Anthony Van Dyck, Magic Wand and Hunting Horn.

The Goodwood Cup rounded out July's racing with Stradivarius completing his threepeat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APkb6wDmI5Y. Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter finished in 3rd position. No shame in that with the first three (Dee Ex Bee in 2nd) pulling well clear of the rest. After the race trainer Charlie Appleby declared that Cross Counter defending his 2018 Melbourne Cup was 'Plan A' and that they expected to be asked to carry 57 or 57.5kg.

Also at Goodwood was the Gordon Stakes for 3 year olds, which was won the previous year by Cross Counter in record time. This year's winner was Nayef Road in a tight finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXmbo3jw7bE. Not sure we'll see any of these runners in Melbourne later this year.

More Glorious Goodwood with the Queen's Plate Group 3 over 2400m. Desert Encounter took the win with Mirage Dancer a 2-length second. The latter is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who was with Fiorente ahead of her being sold to Gai Waterhouse (only about 2 months before her 2012 Melbourne Cup 2nd placing). It was reported in the past couple of days that Mirage Dancer has now been sold to Australian interests and will be trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The plan is to run in the Caulfield Cup ahead of the Melbourne Cup; he's qualified for both. The Cox Plate nomination he holds is a just-in-case. Finishing last in the 5-horse field was Prince of Arran who was eased in the last furlong to finish 14 lengths behind.

Latrobe has won another race overseas, this time in the 2400m Group 3 Ballroan Stakes at Leopardstown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psBWyC_xCE8. Not a hugely impressive win for a $1.90 favourite.

Weights have been released for Europe's richest handicap, the Ebor Cup. Irish runners Communique and Salouen carry the two heaviest handicaps for the race on August 24th. 67 remain in the field. Among those also in the Melbourne Cup futures markets: Falcon Eight ($21), Latrobe ($21), A Prince of Arran ($26), Gold Mount ($26), Withhold ($34), Mustajeer ($51), Red Verdon ($51) and True Self ($51). The last three Ebor Cup winners have all made the Melbourne Cup final field: the best of these was 2016's second place finisher Heartbreak City.

Magic Circle won't be making a return trip for this year's Cup. Finishing 16th last year, his colourful owner Marwan Koukash was popular in the press with his promise that if he won he'd receive the trophy wearing nothing but a tie and thong.

This Saturday is the Ebor Handicap (Ebor being short for 'Eboracum', the Roman name for York). 4 of the last 5 winners have gone on to contest the Melbourne Cup. Recognising the links between the two events - and sweetening the £1mil prize - the Victoria Racing Club will pay for two all-expenses paid trips for Cup Week for winning connections.

The current favourite in the field (max of 22 runners) is King's Advice. He's a 5yo Frankel horse who's won 6 of his last 7 races - and 8 wins from his 10 total starts. Ahead of the 2011 Melbourne Cup his trainer Mark Johnston was quoted:

"The Melbourne Cup is not seen in Europe as it is in Australia," he says bluntly. "That's not my fault. It's just a fact. I would be lying if I said the Melbourne Cup has anywhere near the same kudos in Europe it has over here. It's a huge big prize and a huge challenge to take a horse from one side of the world to the other and win it. But it's not the biggest race in the world.

"It's not the most prestigious race. But it's certainly the most valuable. And this is my best chance to win it."

His runners that year were Fox Hunt and Jukebox Jury who went on to finish 7th and 20th respectively.

King's Advice is yet to qualify, given that he's yet to run outside of handicaps - but the top 3 finishers in the Ebor Cup will pass the first ballot clause.

Withhold is on the second line of betting. The one-time favourite for the 2018 Melbourne Cup had to be withdrawn from that race after bleeding in the Geelong Cup. He's run once since then, taking out the Marsh Cup in July, a 3300m handicap. "It’s a big decision to go [to Melbourne] again, but you’d think he’s the perfect type for it."

Raheen House is third favourite, announced today as being purchased by Australian Bloodstock. Raheen House holds some fame as once having beaten superstar mare Enable (back in April 2017 in Enable's second ever race). After the Ebor Handicap he'll come to Australia to contest both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

As will the other recent Australian Bloodstock purchase in the field, Mustajeer. Last week the Hunter-based syndicators were reported as believing that Mustajeer is their best Caulfield Cup chance and among their top three Melbourne Cup hopes.

Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh and Torcedor headline the company's Melbourne Cup hopes in the TAB market at $26. Murrell rated Mustajeer ($51) ahead of the Chris Waller-trained Shraaoh, but:

"If Torcedor shows up, none of them will get near him," he said. "He's by far the best, but he's an older horse and he's only just started his campaign, so his worry is, is he going to be fit enough?"

Last year Torcedor recorded an elevated temperature as he was about to enter quarantine, ruling him out of an Australian trip. His first race since then was earlier this month, finishing 10 lengths back in a Listed German 2800m. The plan is for one more German race in mid-September and then straight to the Melbourne Cup. They'd want to see something in his next run though, surely...

Ducking the Ebor will be Gold Mount. From his trainer Ian Williams: "It's a great shame we are going to miss the Sky Bet Ebor, but he was sent to me from Richard Gibson in Hong Kong with a view to getting him ready for the Melbourne Cup, and that's the challenge now. He's been given a nice weight, and he'll get out to Australia early, so he may run in the Caulfield Cup there first."


In other racing news, Marmelo continues his good form with a win in the Prix Kergolay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Gd3hkddl4. He won that race in 2017 before finishing 9th in that year's Melbourne Cup. He was, of course, 2nd place last year after being overtaken late by Cross Counter. The two of them now share $17 favouritism in this year's futures markets with Ladbrokes. Apparently this will be his last run before heading to Melbourne once more. Third place in the Kergolay was Maky, an OTI runner whom we may see down here some time as well.


Latrobe won another, this time the Group 3 2400m Ballyroan Stakes: https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1159555247624413184.
"The main reason for coming here was that Lloyd and Nick Williams felt that it would be important to get a win under his belt this year and then we could make a plan for the second half of the year," Joseph O’Brien said.

"He has options all over the place. He could go to Australia, but he has options in America as well. There are places like Japan and there are big races here as well. I’m not sure where exactly he’s going to go yet."

It was subsequently reported that he'll next be contesting the Irish St Leger on September 15th, where he's also anticipated to meet Cross Counter.


Another Williams chance, Master of Reality, finished 3rd in the St Leger Trial Stakes: https://youtu.be/4ftKx9Ym-z0. It wasn't a surprise for a horse by an O'Brien to do well in the race: they comprised the whole field! Joseph O'Brien had 4 of the 6 runners while his father Aidan had the remainder. Dad won bragging rights with Southern France while Joseph filled the rest of the podium with OTI's Downdraft and Master of Reality. Downdraft was reported as needing to do well to increase his official handicap rating ahead of the release of Melbourne Cup weights next month.

Stradivarius has kept his winning run going in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (3270m Group 2). A small field of 4 went around including Dee Ex Bee and Falcon Eight, who were among those at the top of Melbourne Cup futures ($26 and $31 respectively). Both runners have since been ruled out of The Cup after having bled following this race. Falcon Eight was left well adrift of the first three, who were all within 1.5L at the finish: though Stradivarius always looked comfortable as he defended his title from last year. Max Dynamite won this race in 2015 ahead of his 2nd placing in The Cup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFKXvv2WHE

Also at York was the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (2400m Group 2). None of the starters are currently in Melbourne Cup betting, though that may change tomorrow when the first Entry List is to be published. Logician and Constantinople cleared well out from the rest of the small field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZTohwNA-M. Logician is the favourite for the St Leger. It would be nice to see Constantinople here but his trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "We were very happy with Constantinople and we'll see how he comes out of it. He's a big cruiser and still a little bit weak and he'll be a better horse next year. Norway ran well and is another in the [St Leger] mix."

Enable destroyed the competition in the Yorkshire Oaks but there's no chance that we'd see her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0AfBuaq8H0. Off to the Arc to try and be the first three-time winner.

The Ebor was the York race of most interest for Cup followers, with the handicap taken out by Australian Bloodstock-owned Mustajeer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEHQDVUEIrg. He's now an equal Melbourne Cup favourite with Cross Counter, Marmelo and Torcedor ($17 with Ladbrokes). Rounding out the top 3 - and also notching a qualifying run for the Cup - were Red Galileo (0.75L) and Desert Skyline (1.25L). Raheen House was the favourite but finish well back in 9th. One spot ahead was Prince of Arran, 3rd in last year's Melbourne Cup, but unloved here at $34. Max Dynamite, Withhold, Wells Farhh Go, King's Advice and Weekender were some names that had been bandied about but all fell well down the order. Race time was actually the 3rd fastest since 1986: 0.5s faster than Muntahaa last year and over 3s faster than Nakeeta the year before.

Ziyad won the Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m G2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oi5jyWPTdo. This was the race that Tiberian won in 2017 ahead of a Top 10 Melbourne Cup finish later the same year. This race was markedly faster and Tiberian - who was part of the field once more - finished well back this time around. This edition actually saw a race record, nearly a second quicker than the next fastest time recorded. The winner Ziyad had also beaten Marmelo earlier on in his prep and is ineligible for the Arc: "He is gelded and so we almost certainly need to be on our travels with him and there are some nice international targets that could come into calculations." Melbourne would be nice.... Soft Light (the only 3yo in the race) was 2nd and gaining, and Nagano Gold came in 3rd.


Marmelo's trainer has announced his plans: "I think the plan is to give him a couple of weeks off - then go out to Australia at the same time he did last year, and then go straight to the Melbourne Cup," Morrison said.

"It seemed to work well last year. That doesn't necessarily mean it will again, but the horse is in good form.

"We left him in the Irish St Leger as an option, but I don't think we will be going there unless there is a huge change of heart. If the race was in August then we might have gone there."


Confirmed Melbourne Cup starter Steel Prince starts his campaign this weekend in the Heatherlie Stakes. He's the $4.40 favourite for the 1700m race, well short of his best, but his ballot exemption means his trainer can choose his program to best peak on Cup day, not having to worry about placings along the way.