Green Moon and Glencadam Gold passed fit for Melbourne cup

Melbourne Cup hopefuls Green Moon and Glencadam Gold have been passed fit to start in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup after being given the all clear by the Racing Victoria Vets today.

Glencadam Gold

Glencadam Gold (pictured) and Green Moon have been passed fit for the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Both were in doubt to take their place in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next week after Green Moon copped a battering in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last week while Glencadam Gold had to be treated for a bruised hoof.

But the Robert Hickmott trained Green Moon still has to be given the go ahead by owner Lloyd Williams when he will make a final decision tomorrow.

“There will be no decision before Friday,” Williams said earlier in the week.

Criag Williams ran into trouble on Green Moon in the early stages of the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) last week and after being caught wide was well beaten, finishing seventh to Ocean Park.

“You don’t win many weight-for-age races sitting three-wide,” Craig Williams said after the Cox Plate.

“He got tightened and buffeted around coming out of the straight the first time but he didn’t show his usual guts and determination today. I’d just like to see how he pulls up because that’s not the horse I know.”

Glencadam Gold had to miss a run in the Group 3 $250,000 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday due to the hoof injury but trained Gai Waterhouse was always confident that the English import would be fit for the Melbourne Cup.

“I sent Glencadam Gold to the beach again today, he is not running Saturday,” Waterhouse said.

“I’m still confident he will be there Tuesday. He doesn’t need to run again before the Melbourne Cup.”

“He’s a very fit horse, he’s been in work a very long time. I give them plenty of work, they don’t sit around twiddling their thumbs.”

Waterhouse has kept the work up to Glencadam Gold with beach and pool sessions to maintain his fitness levels.

Glencadam Gold was undefeated for the Waterhouse stable since arriving from England until running out of puff when only beating three runners home after leading from a wide barrier when fifteen to Dunaden in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20.

The imported five year old was sent out the $4.40 favourite after leading all of the way in taking out the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 6 after using the same tactics in winning the Group 3 $200,000 Tooheys New Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Newcastle on September 20 the start before.

After being prominent in the Melbourne Cup market before the Caulfield Cup failure, Glencadam Gold has drifted dramatically to be a $51 chance while Green Moon is a $24 show.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain has firmed to be the $6 favourite after it was announced that Damien Oliver would take the ride with Dunaden at $7 to make it back to back Cup wins,

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.