Auckland Cup winner to get his shot at Australia’s greatest race

Trav won the Auckland Cup in March but now has a bigger Cup in his sights. Photo/Kenton Wright

Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.

It was the Bulls gelding’s first appearance at the Auckland track since winning the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) on Champions Day in March, and his run was very similar to that triumphant performance.

Reuniting with Cup-winning hoop Masa Hashizume, Trav settled at the rear of the field, where he enjoyed an economical passage before being presented wide at the turn where he once again showed a good turn of foot to eat into the frontrunners’ lead to finish fourth, just three-quarters of a length off winner Diamond Jak.

Trainer, co-breeder and co-owner Raymond Connors was pleased with the run and said it has given him the confidence to press on with his Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) plans.

“We were happy enough with the way he went,” Connors said.

“He seems to have come through it alright, so I think we will have to have a go now and carry on with the plan and see where we end up.”

The 6-year-old son of Almanzor currently sits in 53rd place in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, with an allocated weight of 51kg, and two Melbourne Cup ballot-exempt races are now firmly in the crosshairs.

“We have pencilled in for him to fly over next week,” Connors said.

“We will start him in The Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m, at Flemington on October 4), see how he goes and make a decision after that.

“It is a big step up over there obviously.”

Trav will likely be joined in the race by fellow New Zealand-trained Melbourne Cup aspirants Mark Twain and (Mister) Wolfgang, who currently sit 46th and 47th in order of entry, while Te Awamutu mare La Crique is already assured of a start in 14th place, with an allocated weight of 54.5kg.

Connors is hoping for a strong performance from Trav in his opening Australian assignment, and if he performs up to expectations, he will be given another chance at gaining an automatic spot in the Melbourne Cup in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22.

“There are obviously plenty of options for him over there, but if he runs well, the Geelong Cup is his next target most likely,” he said.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk