American galloper Parchment Party is on course to make a groundbreaking appearance in the Melbourne Cup, having secured victory in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga early Thursday morning (AEST).
The four-year-old son of Constitution backed up his recent win in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup — which grants a ballot exemption into the Cup — and now has his connections firmly targeting Flemington in November.
Trainer Bill Mott confirmed that Parchment Party will undergo quarantine in the UK before travelling to Australia with a shipment of European contenders for the iconic 3200m Group 1 staying test worth $10 million.
“That’s our goal — head to the Melbourne Cup,” said Dana Bernhard of Pin Oak Stud. “We’ll quarantine in England, then head to Australia and take it from there.”
Parchment Party produced a gutsy inside run to grab victory in the 2816m Birdstone Cup, prevailing by a length over Digital Ops and improving his career record to four wins from 11 starts.
“He’s a big unit, and he’ll bulldoze through anything,” said Jim Bernhard.
While a U.S.-based horse has never contested the Melbourne Cup, the Belmont Gold Cup has regularly featured horses that later made their mark in Australia, such as Loft, Baron Samedi, Amade, and Red Cardinal. Notably, Prince Of Arran finished third in the 2018 Belmont Gold Cup before embarking on his successful Melbourne Cup campaigns.
Punters eyeing a piece of Cup history can follow Parchment Party’s journey and explore the best wagering options through leading Australian betting sites.