Precedence is set to turn nine on Thursday, but trainer James Cummings has confirmed that the veteran stayer will be given the chance to make history in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Precedence will be given the chance to score an unprecedented third win in the Moonee Valley Cup during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Precedence has previously won the Moonee Valley Cup on two occasions, taking out the race in 2010 and 2013 and Cummings told Racing Ahead this morning that the Zabeel gelding is on track to attempt to become the first horse in history to win the time-honored race on three occasions.
“We are going to have a good look at the Moonee Valley Cup again,” Cummings said.
“He is in work down in Melbourne at the minute and so far the boys are quite happy with him.”
Precedence return to his best form during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and took out the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 9, after missing out on a run in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington three days earlier, before finishing sixth in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on November 16.
The eight-year-old was given a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock before resuming with a fast-finishing third in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 3 and he finished a strong second in the Group 2 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 24, but failed to fire after being well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Precedence is likely to be nominated for the 2014 edition of the Melbourne Cup and he will be running in ‘the race that stops a nation’ for the fourth time if he earns a start in the field for the Group 1 event.
He made his Melbourne Cup debut in 2010 and worked home strongly to finish eighth behind Americain and narrowly missed the prizemoney after being ridden on the speed by jockey Darren Beadman in the early stages of the 2011 edition of the race.
Precedence struggled in the lead-up to the 2012 Group 1 Melbourne Cup and started the race at triple figure odds, but produced a brave performance to finish ninth and earn a cheque for his connections.
The veteran stayer is no certainty to earn a start in the 2014 Melbourne Cup field, but he is available at a quote of $101 in the betting market at Ladbrokes Australia.
