Melbourne Cup bound Forgotten Voice will get his chance to stake his Spring Carnival claims when he lines on the Group 3 $300,000 Sportingbet Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on Wednesday.
Jockey Brett Prebble will be riding Forgotten Voice in the Geelong Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The Nicky Henderson trained English stayer was denied a start in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield last Saturday when the Melbourne Racing Club committee favoured the Gai Waterhouse trained Julienas for the final spot in the eighteen horse field.
Forgotten Voice has drawn barrier six in the ten horse Geelong Cup field and will be ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Brett Prebble.
The Peter Moody trained Ibicenco will also line up at Geelong after failing to gain a start at in the Caulfield Cup last Saturday and has drawn gate eight with Brad Rawiller to ride.
Forgotten Voice, who mixes flat racing with the jumps, has impressed track watchers at the Werrbee International Horse Centre since arriving in Australia.
Regular track rider Ryan O’Reilly has been pleased with the way the nine year old has settled in and said his work has indicated that he is on track to make an impression when he steps out for the first time in Melbourne.
“I would be disappointed if he doesn’t run in the placings where ever he goes,” O’Reilly told Racing Victoria.
“I’m really happy with where the horse is at, he’s exactly where we want him to be at this stage.”
Prebble has also been taken with the stayer after making the trip to Werribee to ride him last week when he worked with Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino.
”That was as good a work as you’d get,” Prebble told the Sydney Morning Herald last week after Forgotten Voice worked at Werribee.
”He gave me a real good feel. I was surprised at the turn of foot he had.
”He’s a big strong boy and I couldn’t pull him up – that’s what I liked most about him.”
Forgotten Voice will be having his first run since winning the Group 3 £60,000 Coutts Glorious Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs) at Glorious Goodwood in England on August 2.
Forgotten Voice also has winning form over the hurdles with a five lengths win over the jumps in the William Hill Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle over 2 mile (3200m) at Kempton in February.
The Geelong Cup has been a good spring board for Flemington with Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) all winning the country cup before claiming victory in the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Forgotten Voice in currently the $2.80 favourite for the Geelong Cup in front of $6 chances Ibicenco and Verdant who is coming off a sixth to Sea Moon in the Group 2 $220,000 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 12.
Topweight Tanby is also in the mix at $7.50 with Crafty Cruiser with Michael Walker on board the next in the betting at $8.
