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2023 09 06

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Melbourne Cup winner likely to bypass Saturday's Feehan Stakes

Low-key, big-weight return for Trip?

Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip is likely to bypass Saturday's Feehan Stakes and instead kick off over the Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres in a Benchmark 100 handicap.With a maximum topweight of 62 kilograms, the 117-rater is, weather permitting, likely to commence his spring campaign this weekend geared towards a Cup defence."I think just the way he is trialling up he will travel better at the 2000," explained Ciaron Maher, who trains the horse in partnership with David Eustace."There is a maximum handicap of 62 … it works pretty well for those horses coming back."So we might look at that ahead of the Feehan, but we will keep an eye on the tracks as well."Maher and Eustace have run four horses in Saturday company in recent months who have been allocated 62kg before claims, with United Nations and Right You Are both finishing second, while St Lawrence carried 61kg in late July after Carleen Heffel's 1.5kg claim.Maher said the forecast of showers this week will sway his decision to commence Gold Trip's preparation.The Melbourne Cup winner has had three trials leading up to his spring campaign."He wouldn't be the worst I don't think, he is way out of the handicap but at that 62 (kilograms) it's capped and you can claim off it and it gets him in not too bad," Maher said.&nbsp;In other stable news, Maher said St Albans Stakes winner Brave Mead has arrived down from Sydney and will kick off in the McKenzie Stakes, the same track and trip at which he was a Stakes winner last preparation."We travelled him down to target this race and the last couple of weeks he has really come on and I was very happy with his work today," Maher said."He is a progressive horse, he did a good job last preparation and I think he is in for another good prep."I Am Invincible filly Zoukerino, who won the Tatts Stakes last start, will resume in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes."She had a good look around this morning and worked with Imperatriz," Maher said."She is in good order, prepped up well and carries a bit of fitness in from her winter campaign."Last-start Moonee Valley winner Floating Artist will head to the Naturalism Stakes in a bid to qualify again for the Melbourne Cup, while Smokin' Romans will head to the Underwood Stakes with stablemate Duke De Sessa, whose Memsie Stakes return on dry ground pleased Maher.

Low-key, big-weight return for Trip? - Racing News

Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip is likely to bypass Saturday's Feehan Stakes and instead kick off over the Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres. Updates on other stable horses.

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Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip likely to skip Feehan Stakes, starting campaign over Cox Plate distance. Ciaron Maher, David Eustace training horses. Updates on Brave Mead, Zoukerino, Floating Artist, Smokin' Romans, Duke De Sessa.