Rising Victorian trainer Saab Hasan has confirmed that Shoreham will be included in the nominations for the 2014 Melbourne Cup, but he admits that the promising stayer may not be good enough to earn a start in the Group 1 event at Flemington on November 4.
Shoreham will be included in the nominations for the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Shoreham was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished fourth behind Unchain My Heart in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Flemington on May 24, but returned to trackwork in June and Hasan told Racing Ahead that he is delighted with the condition of the Reset gelding.
“He is flying, he has come back in great condition,” Hasan said.
“He has held his weight really, really well this prep.
“He has been back for about five weeks and I couldn’t be happier with him, I think that we will see the best of him this prep.”
Hasan revealed last month that he was eyeing the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 9 with Shoreham, but he believes that there are plenty of potential of targets for the rising five-year-old during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Shoreham finished second behind Precedence in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and that race could be on his agenda again, while the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 is all in Hasan’s sights.
“I really don’t know,” Hasan said when asked what Shoreham’s major target will be during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
“We are still going to nominate for the Melbourne Cup and keep the dream alive, but realistically he needs to learn to settle.
“He pulled a little hard in the Andrew Ramsden here and there are heaps of races.
“You have the Queen Elizabeth, Geelong Cup, Moonee Valley Cup.
“There are plenty of options for the horse and we will nominate like everyone else to keep the dream alive in the Melbourne Cup, but he may not be good enough to get a run in it this year.”
Shoreham is yet to record a win at Group level, but he finished in the placings in both the Moonee Valley Cup and Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last year and won the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) and Listed Galilee Series Final (2500m).
He is currently available at odds of $101 in the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes Australia.
