Trainer Mike Moroney is content to miss a run on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday with his Melbourne Cup chance, imported German stayer, Araldo.
Araldo will miss Derby Day and go straight into the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday In November. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Araldo was pushed up one more spot to number twenty-three in the order of entry for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday following the withdrawal of one time favourite The Offer on Wednesday because of a leg injury.
But his place in the final twenty-four horse field is still not guaranteed with the possibility that both the winners of the Group 1 $1m Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) could leapfrog him if they are below him in the order of entry.
Moroney had nominated Araldo for both the Mackinnon Stakes and the Lexus Stakes but the Melbourne Cup winning trainer is willing to take the risk and leave Araldo at home in his box and hope the cards fall his way.
“Just rolling the dice,” Moroney told AAP.
“I would prefer not to run and just go straight into it, but it is either that or we take the risk of attrition and the fact that we are in now.”
“Of the locals you’d think he would be one of the better stayers going into the Melbourne Cup.”
Moroney also pointed out that Araldo usually takes a couple of days to get back onto his feed after a run and for that reason he is content to miss a hard run three days before the testing 3200m of the Melbourne Cup.
“He is a horse that sometimes doesn’t eat that flash after he runs and for that reason I would prefer not to,” Moroney said.
Araldo, who did most of his racing in Germany before joining the Moroney stable prior to the Spring Carnival last year, quickly rewarded connections with a win at his third start in the 2013 Listed $120,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.
The High Chaparral seven year old has had four runs this campaign with his last two efforts giving the stable confidence heading towards the first Tuesday in November.
A late finish saw Araldo get to within one and a quarter lengths of Junoob when third in the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 4 then he came from near last at the 800m to finish fifth, one and a half lengths behind Admire Rakti in the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
Craig Williams rode Araldo in the Caulfield Cup but Dwayne Dunn will take over the reins next Tuesday with Williams securing the ride on the Godolphin owned Cavalryman.
In the latest Melbourne Cup market order with Ladbrokes.com.au Araldo is rated a $19 chance alongside of the globetrotting English stayer Red Cadeaux.
Caulfield Cup winner Japanese stayer Admire Rakti is at the head of the betting at $4.80 in front of German galloper Protectionist at $7, Lucia Valentina at $7.50, Fawkner at $8.50 and the Irish stayer Mutual Regard at $10.
