Placing an agonising close second in three editions of the Race That Stops a Nation, trainer Saeed bin Suroor has revealed he is confident of breaking through for a maiden victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) this year with exciting and in-form stayer Cavalryman.
Cavalryman finished 12th behind Green Moon (pictured) in the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
No stranger to the Australian headline race, Cavalryman travelled south to contest the 2012 edition of the Melbourne Cup, but was unable to match the late pace of eventual champion Green Moon, finishing twelfth.
Arguably hitting career-best form in 2014, which has so-far delivered four race wins and one second place over five starts including the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m) most recently, bin Suroor told Racing Victoria he believes the requirements and finer details of the Melbourne Cup will play directly into the strengths of Cavalryman this year.
“We have three times been second in the Melbourne Cup and you need a class horse these days,” bin Suroor said.
“In the old days you would think about a handicapper and their weight but now you need a Group 1 or 2 horse who will go and do the job for you there.
“For the Melbourne Cup you need a 2400-metre horse with class and a turn of foot for 1200 metres as the go fast, slow and then fast again in the Cup and that is different to here in the UK.
“Cavalryman has the class and has won on all types of ground and we know the track at Flemington suits him.”
Understandably thrilled with the Halling entire’s form through 2014 so far, bin Suroor said Cavalryman will be joined in Australia by talented stable mate Willing Foe, with a third option likely to be selected in the coming weeks.
“He won in Dubai and was then second in the race he won on World Cup night the previous year,” bin Suroor said.
“We then brought him back to the UK and he won at Newmarket and then at Goodwood.
“He will go along with Willing Foe and we will search for a third runner too. We will see how the horses run the next few weeks before making a decision.”
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