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Purton Booked On Mullins’s Absurde In Melbourne Cup

Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will ride Willie Mullins trainee Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November.

“The Melbourne Cup is the race that Zac wants the most,” Purton's manager Paul 'Popup' Webster told Racenet. “Earlier this year we discussed targeting Willie Mullins.

“Whatever he brings over, lets do everything we can to get on it and it's come to fruition. We've picked up the ride on Absurde.”

A winner of the Ebor H. in August, Absurde and his Mullins stablemate Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) are both targeting the iconic two-mile race and have arrived at the Werribee Quarantine Centre.

“The Melbourne Cup is the dream, it's the pinnacle for any Australian jockey,” Purton said. “Willie Mullins is a training genius, as good as anyone I've come across anywhere in the world.

“There's none better at travelling horses and he's had a couple of near misses already in the race. He knows the right type of horse to bring and I'm honoured to be riding one for him.”

Mullins has placed twice in the Melbourne Cup with Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) when second in 2015 and third two years later.

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No Royal Runner In The Melbourne Cup, As Desert Hero Ruled Out

Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for The King and The Queen, will not travel to Australia and contest the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. Instead, he will be given a break and will return as a 4-year-old.

Trained by William Haggas, the son of Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G3 Gordon S. in August and was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 16.

John Warren, racing adviser to the King and Queen, said, “After giving it plenty of thought we have decided that Desert Hero won't head to the Melbourne Cup this year.

“It is obviously a world-class race and it was very tempting, but he is still a young horse and we will give him more time to mature.

“He will now have a good break and William will work out a plan for next year.”

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Long Distance Cup Is An Option For Giavellotto As Melbourne Trip Off The Table

Scuderia La Tesa's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup S. in May, will not travel for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, with connections considering the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot instead, trainer Marco Botti revealed.

“He's in good form and has come out of the race at York in fine shape, but we're not going to Australia,” said Botti. “There were a few niggling problems and it's not going to happen this year unfortunately.

“Hopefully next year if we still have him and everything is going well then we can think about it as the Melbourne Cup is a race the owners would love to go for, and the race and the track would suit him as he seems to go on left-handed tracks.”

Botti is on weather watch regarding the 4-year-old's bid on QIPCO British Champions Day, with softer conditions unlikely to suit Giavellotto. After his York triumph, he ran fifth in the G1 Goodwood Cup S. to Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in August and was most recently third in the G2 Lonsdale Cup S. back at York at the end of that month.

“We'll keep an eye on the weather as he will only go to Ascot if the ground is not too soft,” he added. “Good to soft is fine, but he wouldn't want to run on anything softer than that. If he doesn't go to Ascot we'll just put him away for the winter.

“We haven't discussed plans for next year with the owners yet. I wouldn't rule out going back to [the] Dubai World Cup night for the G2 Gold Cup, but let's see how he winters and how he is after a nice break.”

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Lastotchka Purchased By Australian Bloodstock With Melbourne Cup Aim

Multiple Group 3 winner Lastotchka (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and is under consideration for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November.

The 4-year-old filly most recently won the G3 Prix Gladiateur at ParisLongchamp earlier this month. She was raced by Ecurie Noel Forgeard, Pierre Bonnier, Earl Touchstone, Charles-Henri Bonnier and Philippe Stein prior to her acquisition. The daughter of Muthla (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) won the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit earlier in her career.

“We completed the deal last night,” Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock told Racing.com on Wednesday.

“There's a few things to play out so we are leaving her in in Chantilly for more scans at the moment. She's passed the RV (Racing Victoria) trot-up and they've seen the X-rays so far.”

Of the former Jean-Marie Beguigne trainee's appeal, Lovett added, “We really liked the form. The thing that ticked the last box was that she's obviously won at a mile and a half but interestingly enough her two Group 3 wins were at 2800 metres and 3100 metres.

“She's bought for that race and she's come in with 51kgs. She's also good residual value as a multiple Group 3 winner with a lovely pedigree.”

Australian Bloodstock won the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), and he is currently top weight for the two-mile prize when the weights were released on Tuesday.

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