Exospheric is on top of the 2016 Melbourne Cup tips of Lee Freedman and the Melbourne Cup winning trainer is confident that the import will have no problems running out a strong 3200 metres.
Exospheric is Lee Freeman’s picked of two runners in the 2016 Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Exospheric has been a strong and consistent performer in his native Britain since an impressive debut in 2015, and the northern hemisphere four-year-old announced himself to the Australian racing community when he ran on well for third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) a fortnight ago.
Freedman concedes that there is really no way to tell if a horse will handle two-mile racing until they do it, but told Racing Ahead that he cannot fault Exospheric and is confident that the horse will be up to the task on the wide Flemington track on Tuesday afternoon.
“I don’t think you’re ever really certain until they run it right out, but certainly his closing effort in the Caulfield Cup wouldn’t instil any fear in you,” Freedman said.
“He lost a fair bit of weight in the Caulfield Cup but he replaced it very quickly and I hope that the winning move is that we moved him straight from quarantine to Pinecliff where he was in the rural environment, and I think it’s been very good for the horse.”
Lee and brother Anthony will also saddle warhorse Our Ivanhowe in the 2016 Melbourne Cup field, but are leaning slightly towards Exopsheric’s prospects of success in the world’s richest two-mile race.
“On class and potential I’d probably go Exospheric,” Freedman said.
“I genuinely think the other horse will run a fantastic race, but may need it a bit softer to actually win the race.”
Exospheric, registered as Exosphere in Britain, was a strong and consistent performer for Sir Michael Stoute and posted a commendable record of four wins and two minors through only ten starts.
Resuming this year for a classy win in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes (2414m) on April 30th, the Beat Hollow entire failed to fire in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m), but responded well for third in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (2414m) and fifth in the Group 1 Juddmonte International (2092m).
Champion hoop Damien Oliver will take the ride on Exospheric in the Melbourne Cup, who will carry a manageable 56kgs from barrier 13.
Exospheric is currently available at 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $19 with Ladbrokes Australia.
