The Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m), which offers a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), is the long-term target for promising stayer Berkshire Breeze.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import has won his last two Australian starts, including a convincing victory in a 2520m race at Flemington on June 8.
“He was very good,” Maher’s Cranbourne-based assistant, Jack Turnbull, told Racing.com.
“He put the writing on the wall, won well, and ran a good figure at Cranbourne over 2000 metres. His best form was 2400 metres plus in England, and he showed that on Saturday.”
Turnbull added, “He’ll head towards the final in a month over 2600 metres and then plot a path towards The Bart Cummings.”
The Bart Cummings is set to be run at Flemington on Saturday, October 5.
Berkshire Breeze is marked as a +5000 hope with horse racing bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup.
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