Melbourne Cup start may be on the cards for Bondi Beach

There appears to be growing confidence in Australia that Bondi Beach will form part of a strong Melbourne Cup challenge for Aidan O’Brien but whether or not the colt travels

as a classic winner is to be decided on Wednesday.

A British Horseracing Authority panel will hear the appeal from Simple Verse’s connections in London on Wednesday morning against her demotion from first in the Doncaster St Leger in favour of Bondi Beach.

The disqualification infuriated the Simple Verse team of trainer Ralph Beckett and owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani of Qatar Racing who also lost out on a top-flight prize in last month’s Beverly D Stakes at Arlington when Secret Gesture was demoted.

The Andrea Atzeni-ridden Simple Verse passed the post a head in front of Bondi Beach but the result was changed after stewards examined interference in the closing stages that appeared to show the filly bumping the Irish raider.

Strong indications

Australian media reports indicate Bondi Beach is one of three O’Brien-trained stars who have been bought into by leading local owner Lloyd Williams. The others are Irish St Leger hero Order of St George and Kingfisher.

All three hold Melbourne Cup entries and Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said: “We are getting very strong indications from the Aidan O’Brien team that they will travel up to four horses, including Bondi Beach, and could have runners in the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and another runner for feature races like the Mackinnon and the Emirates.

“The two we are reasonably confident will travel for the Cup are Bondi Beach and Kingfisher. That decision has to be made by the end of the week.”

Betting lists

Next month’s Cox Plate, won by the O’Brien-trained Adelaide last year, has Highland Reel topping some ante-post betting lists.

“They look like bringing Highland Reel and Ol’ Man River, or they might even bring a horse like Cougar Mountain for an Emirates. All those horses have to be in quarantine at the end of the coming week,” Carpenter said.

Williams has won the Melbourne Cup on four occasions, including with European import Green Moon in 2012.

O'Brien has just two starters at a Navan Monday card where David Wachman sends four, including interesting newcomer After Dawn in the opening juvenile maiden.

Wachman’s other hope, Know, is rated 82 but Wayne Lordan is on board After Dawn, a half sister to the French Group 1 winner Ectot.

Seamus Heffernan has to sit out a ten-day ban from this Sunday but can make his presence felt in both divisions of the ten-furlong handicap with a couple of prospective each-way shots. Palace Art and The Nutcracker were placed at Listowel on Thursday and the latter looks interesting in the second leg.

Local trainer Tom Gibney also has a shout in another handicap with the Curragh winner, To Choose.