Trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that talented stayer Order Of St George will not contest 2015 Melbourne Cup that will be held at Flemington on November 3.
Coolmore are chasing another major win during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival in both the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Order Of St George entered the quarantine facility in Ireland last week along with fellow Melbourne Cup hopefuls Bondi Beach and Kingfisher, but Order Of St George will remain in Ireland due to concerns about a potential firm track at Flemington.
The Macedon Lodge team purchased a share of Bondi Beach, Kingfisher and Order Of St George before they entered the quarantine facility and part-owner Nick Williams confirmed that there were no issues with the Northern Hemisphere three-year-old and he is hopeful that the Galileo colt will make the trip to Australia for the 2016 Melbourne Cup.
“I don’t think there’s too much of a problem with him,” Williams told Racing.com
“He was always a 50/50 chance of coming and I think Aidan’s just decided not to risk him on a hard track.
“He’s a young horse with a big future so he can come out next spring instead.”
Order Of St George started his 2015 racing season with a very close second behind Bondi Beach in the Group 3 Curragh Cup (2816m) on June 28 and he returned to winning form with a dominant five and a half lengths victory in the Her Majesty’s Plate (2592m) at Down Royal on July 24.
He recorded a maiden win at Group level when he demolished the likes of Sea Moon and Kingfisher in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (2816m) at Curragh on August 23 and he stamped himself as a legitimate Melbourne Cup contender when he romped away to record an incredible 11 lengths win in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at Curragh on September 13.
Coolmore confirmed that Kingfisher and Bondi Beach will still make the trip to Australia for the 2015 Melbourne Cup, while Secretariat Stakes winner Highland Reel will represent the stable in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and he will be partnered by Ryan Moore, who steered Adelaide to victory in the race last year.
The withdrawal of Order Of St George has led to some changes to the 2015 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes, but Japanese stayer Fame Game ($8) remains a clear favourite from Turnbull Stakes winner Preferment ($11), the tough Hokko Brave ($15), Lonsdale Cup winner Max Dynamite ($15), Hardwicke Stakes winner Snow Sky ($15), Bondi Beach ($17) and last year’s Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman ($17).
