In a thrilling build-up to the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup, the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) is poised to be a pivotal event, attracting a formidable lineup of 17 top-tier stayers.
With a lucrative A$500,000 purse at stake, this race holds tremendous significance for contenders eyeing the grandeur of the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The Geelong Cup has historically served as a crucial stepping stone for horses en route to the Melbourne Cup, especially for international entries, which have showcased remarkable prowess in this event.
Notable examples include Media Puzzle's triumphant journey in 2002, culminating in Melbourne Cup glory, a feat emulated by Americain in 2010 and Dunaden in 2021.
Among the contenders in the 2023 Geelong Cup, a select few stand at a crossroads, their Melbourne Cup dreams hinging on a stellar performance here.
Foremost among them is the favoured First Immortal, a four-year-old gelding who narrowly missed an automatic Melbourne Cup berth with a second-place finish in The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 7.
Seated at the 49th spot in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, First Immortal's path to the big race hinges on a victory this Wednesday.
However, the odds were dealt a challenging hand on Monday, as First Immortal, steered by the accomplished Jamie Kah, drew barrier 15 in the fiercely competitive 17-horse field.
Spanish Mission, a seasoned contender who secured third place in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, sets his sights on the Geelong feature as his final preparatory race before the monumental Tuesday in November.
Under the guidance of trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, this seasoned stayer has already secured a comfortable berth in the Melbourne Cup field, displaying promising form to peak on the grandest stage.
Blake Shinn is entrusted with the reins, steering Spanish Mission from barrier 11 in Wednesday's showdown.
Renowned trainer Chris Waller will unleash a formidable quintet of runners, while the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable, alongside Annabel Neasham, will field two representatives in this hotly contested Cup.
Scheduled as the seventh race in a power-packed nine-race program on Wednesday afternoon, the 2023 Geelong Cup is poised to ignite the track at 4:00 PM AEDT.