Revelare will head to Flemington for a tilt at the $500,000 ballot-exempt Group 3 The Archer, with trainer Robert Hickmott confirming the stayer’s spring path after his Caulfield success.
The gelding, a five-year-old by Wootton Bassett, produced a strong win over 2000m last Saturday and has now earned a crack at 2500m company as he builds towards the Group 3 The Bart Cummings. Both races offer automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup, for which he is among the 120 nominations.
“He’ll probably gain more fitness out of this run going into the Cummings,” Hickmott said. “He’ll have that nice solid hit out over a mile-and-a-half, which will hopefully have him cherry for the Cummings.”
Hickmott was on course at Flemington on Tuesday when nominations were unveiled, with international depth again strong. Via Sistina, Treasurethe Moment, Sir Delius, Aeliana and last year’s Cup winner Knight’s Choice headline the local entries. Vauban, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, features again alongside his former yard mate Absurde, who has finished seventh and fifth in the past two Cups.
Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien and Joseph O’Brien have again added their names to the entry sheet, with Joseph nominating two including favourite Al Riffa. Aidan’s trio includes Scandinavia, while Mullins also has Hipop De Loire. America, Japan, England, France and Germany are also represented, with US contender Parchment Party already qualified courtesy of his Belmont Gold Cup win, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez booked to ride.
“The breadth of the nominations from England, Ireland, France, Germany, USA and Japan is probably the widest breadth of nominations we’ve had,” VRC racing boss Leigh Jordon said. “This year’s 165th running, the first Lexus Melbourne Cup at $10 million, should be fantastic.”
The next key date comes September 16, when Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan releases the weights.