BMW On Cards for Auckland Cup Winner Sangster

New Zealand gelding Sangster could be aimed at next month’s $2.5 million BMW after a dominant Auckland Cup win at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

Auckland Cup winner Sangster could contest the BMW. Photo: Taron Clarke.

Sangster justified his favouritism to win New Zealand’s number one staying race, beating home El Soldado and Chaparrone by 2 1/2 lengths.

It was the third consecutive victory for the four-year-old who previously won the Group 2 Avondale Gold Cup and the Group 1 International Stakes.

Despite his outstanding early autumn form, trainer Trent Busuttin admits the four-year-old will have to improve in order to be successful in the BMW.

“For a race like that he is going to have to take another step up and really prove himself at weight-for-age level,” Busuttin said following the win on Wednesday.

Busuttin also has has Singapore Cup aspirations for Sangster but quarantine requirements could put that goal on hold.

The Cambridge trainer is keeping one eye on the future with the talented stayer and a trip to Singapore would effectively rule him out of the spring’s major staying races.

“We would like to take him to the Singapore Cup but the quarantine conditions make it a tough choice,” Busuttin said following Wednesday’s Auckland Cup win.

“The trip home requires six weeks in quarantine which would effectively take away the spring.”

The son of Savabeel is no stranger to Australian conditions, having won the Group 1 Victoria Derby as a three-year-old in 2011.

He returned last autumn but a third-place finish in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes was the only highlight in a four-start campaign.

Busuttin has not ruled out making a tilt at the $6 million Melbourne Cup in November.

“It’s a $6 million race and it would be great to have a runner,” Busuttin said.

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