By Brendan Rees
The “dream is alive” for the owners of a Cranbourne horse to conquer the $7 million Melbourne Cup.
Rising Red is currently 39th in the ballot order and must win a group three race on Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 3 November to gain a Melbourne Cup start.
The five-year old Gelding which is based at Cranbourne Racecourse is co-owned by Cranbourne Turf Club Nail Bainbridge, Bruce Watson, Peter O’Shannessy, Luke King, Simon Hodgson, Andrew Brumby, Silvio Marinelli and Mandy Taylor.
“We’re very realistic the fact that, A, to get into the field is very, very difficult and that in itself would be an unbelievable feat if he happen to win on Saturday,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“It would clearly be an unbelievable dream come true to have a Melbourne Cup runner and obviously delighted to be part of the ownership,” he added.
Mr Bainbridge said the group three race on Derby day carried ballot exemptions directly into the Melbourne Cup.
There is uncertainty about the name of the race on Derby Day. However, Mr Bainbridge said it was a Hotham handicap but renamed the Lexus Stakes.
“There’s some mixed thought with what they’re rolling with. I think it’s going to be called the Lexus Stakes.”
Rising Red has a total prizemoney of $380,547 with his biggest payday being in the group one New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie over 2400 metres in March 2017 when he took home $161,820.
Mr Bainbridge said all co-owners were excited, with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young also “both very happy with him.”
“He’s had a couple of injuries along the way but he’s back firing as good as ever. We’re optimistic that Saturday will deliver a great result for us,” he said.
“It will be a very hot race because being the last guarantee entry into the Melbourne Cup.
“At the moment he’s 39th in order so he needs to win on Saturday to get into the field to run in the Melbourne Cup.”
“Even as a six-year-old he’ll probably be bigger and stronger and he’ll be trying his best to get into that field again next, but the dream’s alive at this moment.
“It’s very exciting we could have a Cranbourne horse, a local horse running in the race that stops the nation,” Mr Bainbridge added.
“It’ll be a busy day because we’re actually racing here on Melbourne Cup day races so I’d like to work out if I can get a leave pass from the chairman to attend the Melbourne Cup at Flemington if I’ve got a runner or have to work on the day,” he laughed.
