A MELBOURNE Cup bid by Galileo’s Choice was ruled out due to qualification problems but a major international flat prize could still be on his radar with trainer Dermot Weld contemplating a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
The €573,000-mile-and-three-quarter event is run at Churchill Downs in just under three weeks’ time and Weld is examining the possibility of sending his versatile dual-purpose performer for a race that was won by Aidan O’Brien’s Man Or Iron two years ago.
The race has been upgraded to Grade Two status this year and will be on run on dirt on the main Breeders’ Cup Saturday card.
“We are considering it but I have to decide how he might handle the dirt surface. I haven’t decided yet but I will have to pretty shortly,” Weld said yesterday.
The legendary Curragh trainer was left unhappy last month when it emerged Galileo’s Choice’s Group Three success in the Kilternan Stakes over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown was not enough to ensure automatic inclusion in the Melbourne Cup. Weld urged the Australian authorities to review the qualification conditions for a race he famously won twice with Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle.
Weld’s stable jockey Pat Smullen won the inaugural Marathon on Muhannak at Santa Anita in 2008 and Man Of Iron also won on the synthetic surface before there was an American winner on the Churchill dirt last year.
If Weld decides against running his horse on the dirt, Galileo’s Choice could be aimed at a very different target in Fairyhouse’s Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at the “Winter Festival” at the start of December.
Galileo’s Choice won his sole start to date over jumps when defeating Drumfire in a maiden hurdle at the Galway festival in July.
Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud team remain hopeful the dual Grade One winner Weapons Amnesty will return to competitive action after being ruled out for the season for the second year running.
The former RSA Chase and Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle winner was rated a likely Gold Cup contender but Eddie O’Leary, brother of the Ryanair boss, confirmed yesterday the gelding is on the sidelines again.
“Unfortunately he’s out for the season but he’s still a young horse and hopefully he’ll be back for next year. We’ll certainly try our best to get him back,” he said.
Another Gigginstown star, First Lieutenant, was beaten at odds on by De Valira over fences at Cork on Sunday but his trainer Mouse Morris was not disheartened with the result.
“Things just weren’t right for him from start to finish. There was no pace on early and then the horse in front fell. That left us in the lead and he’s idle in front. He just started walking,” he said.
“But it is all experience for him and the winner has some decent form and is three years older than our horse. Two and a half miles round Cork is a bit quick for him as well and he’ll be a better horse on a more galloping track,” Morris added.
