Trainer John Gosden has confirmed that Gatewood will run in the 2014 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4 after the talented stayer entered quarantine at Newmarket overnight.
Gatewood will be returning to Australia for the 2014 Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Gatewood made his first trip to Australia in 2012 and he took out the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), but was unable to earn a place in the Melbourne Cup field after he finished a disappointing sixth in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m).
The Galileo entire was transferred to leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, but he failed to fire in four race starts and was sent back to Gosden in the United Kingdom.
Gatewood was unable to record a race win during the 2013 European racing season, but he returned to winning form this year when he took out the Listed Buckhounds Stakes (2414m), Listed Tapster Stakes (2414m) and Group 3 Prix De Reux (2500m) before finishing second in the Group 2 Grand Prix De Deauville Lucien Barriere (2500m) in France on August 31.
Gosden said that he has been happy with the form of Gatewood this preparation and he confirmed that the six-year-old would return to Australia for the Melbourne Cup after he was allocated 55 kilograms by Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter when the 2014 Melbourne Cup weights were released last week.
“The horse is in good form and I am looking forward to taking him back to Australia,” Gosden said.
“He got stuck in the mud on his most recent start in Deauville but still ran a very good race in defeat and he had won nicely at the same track on his previous outing.
“The horse certainly knows how to get to Australia and back and the plan is to run him straight off the plane in the Cup – he will not have a prep race.
“I have been pleased with the way he has been training this year.”
Gatewood is one of a number of 2014 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival contenders that entered quarantine in the United Kingdom overnight.
Godolphin duo Cavalryman and Willing Foe as well as Johnny Murtagh-trained Royal Diamond are both set to run in the Melbourne Cup and they joined Gatewood in the Newmarket facility, while Pale Mimosa in Ireland was placed into quarantine, but is still no certainty to make the trip to Australia.
Leading European sprinter Slade Power joined the Group in quarantine and he has been set for the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8.
Gatewood is currently available at 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $51 with Ladbrokes Australia.
