Metropolitan winner Patrick Erin will need to win Wednesday’s Group 3 $350,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo and receive a weight penalty to gain a place in the 2018 Melbourne Cup.
Patrick Erin, above in black and white and purple colours, is one of the top fancies for the 2018 Bendigo Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
Patrick Erin is number 38 in the order of entry for the Group 1 $7.3m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday after second acceptances were taken on Monday and even with a substantial penalty, will still be border line of making the final twenty-four horse field.
The former New Zealand trained stayer is currently weighted with 52kg for the Melbourne Cup which includes a 2kg penalty for winning the Group 1 $750,000 The Heineken 3 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on September 29.
Trainer Chris Waller scratched Patrick Erin form last Saturday’s Group 2 $500,000 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at The Valley after the seven year old drew a very wide barrier but was still out luck after drawing barrier thirteen in the fifteen horse Bendigo Cup field.
“He does need to win a race to get his rating up even higher to get a start in the Melbourne Cup,” Waller said.
“In my opinion he is a two mile horse but he obviously hit form when winning the Group 1 Metropolitan last start.”
“We opted not to run in the St Leger because of the wet track and the fact that it is not a Group race yet he couldn’t get a re-handicap.”
Patrick Erin has to carry the top weight of 58kg in the Bendigo Cup with Corey Brown retaining the ride after the pair combined for the win in The Metropolitan.
Betting for the 2018 Bendigo Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au has Patrick Erin as the $6 second favourite behind the Darren Weir trained Furrion at $2.20.
Jye McNeil rides the lightly weighed Furrion who worked his way up through the grades with a hat trick of wins before a last start third as the $1.80 favourite to Octabello in the Listed $350,000 Cranbourne Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne on October 14.
Dal Harraild (Kerrin McEvoy, barrier), Lord Fandango (Damian Lane, barrier 11) and Sir Charles Road (Dwayne Dunn, barrier 4) are also chasing a win in the Bendigo Cup to enhance their chances of making the final Melbourne Cup field.
