Qatar In Race For Melbourne Cup

The international numbers in pursuit of the first $7 million Melbourne Cup continue to swell with Qatar Racing announcing an attempt on the race this spring by a son of Frankel named Count Octave.

Speaking from his Kingsclere base at Newbury in the United Kingdom, trainer Andrew Balding said he will look to get one more race into Count Octave before jetting off Down Under.

Balding told the Qatar Racing website: “Count Octave’s likely route will be either the Lonsdale Cup or the Ebor at York. It depends on where Sheikh Fahad would like to run him, with the former being the more likely.

“However, long term, the aim is the Lexus Melbourne Cup.”

The news of Count Octave’s attempt on the Melbourne Cup comes on the heels of confirmation that a number of other UK-based stayers will make the long trip for the Melbourne Cup this spring.

Already, UK horses such as Marmelo, Withhold, Prince Of Arran, Magic Circle and Red Verdon as well as Godolphin’s UK-based stayers Folkswood, Old Persian, Hamada and Best Solution all have the Melbourne Cup as their ultimate spring goal.

Connections of Japanese gallopers Chestnut Coat and Sole Impact have also indicated they will make attempts on both the $5m Caulfield Cup and the $7.3m Melbourne Cup.

Count Octave, a last-start placegetter in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot, is owned by Qatar Racing, which is made up of Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani and his brothers. If the stayer can prevail on the first Tuesday in November, it will be Qatar Racing’s first winner of the race.

However, for Sheikh Fahad himself, it would represent his second winner as Dunaden, in the colours of Pearl Bloodstock, won the race in 2011. Pearl Bloodstock preceded Qatar Racing and now sits under the umbrella of the main operation.

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: “Sheikh Fahad has been very fortunate to already win the Melbourne Cup but I know he would love to do so again in the colours of Qatar Racing.

“Count Octave has some good form that ties in with some real Group 1 horses, so hopefully we can get to that stage safe and sound and then the excitement can begin.

“Qatar Racing has horses with trainers all over the world and we are always looking at international opportunities and the prizes don’t come much bigger than the Melbourne Cup.”

Star Irish jockey Oisin Murphy said: “It’s been a tremendous few months for both myself and Qatar Racing and I’m very grateful to Sheikh Fahad for giving me the opportunity to ride in these big races.

“Winning the Coral-Eclipse was an amazing feeling, but I think winning the Melbourne Cup could possibly top even that.

“We’ve a long way to go, but hopefully all will be well and we can line up with a good chance on the day.”

– racing.com

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