2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist will resume its new campaign in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday.
The now Kris Lees-trained runner has been working well and currently sits at $4.40 with Sportsbet.com.au to win this Saturday.
“He worked well within himself and we're happy with him going into Saturday,” Lees said.
It opened at $4.20 before being bet into $3.90 but it has since drifted throughout the week. Other top chances in the Peter Young Stakes include Happy Trails ($5) and recent winner Mourinho, which has stayed steady in the betting at $7.50.
Protectionist is a five-year-old son of Monsun which formerly raced in Germany under the care of Andreas Wohler, and it won a trial at Newcastle on February 2 by half-a-length. It has now won in excess of $3.8 million in only 10 starts and its ROI (Return On Income) sits at an incredible 96 per cent.
The talented stayer is at a very good price to make it back-to-back Melbourne Cup wins. Protectionist is currently paying $10 for the 2015 Melbourne Cup at WilliamHill.com, which will only shorten if it performs well this weekend.
The current market is dominated by either international or former international runners with Ivanhowe ($17), Almandin ($21), Lord Van Percy ($26), Glorious Sinndar ($26) and Adelaide at $26.
The Peter Young Stakes includes many Melbourne Cup chances which have all taken some interest in the market.
1. Protectionist – $4.40
2. Happy Trails – $5
3. Mourinho – $7.50
4. Lidari – $13
5. Jacquinot Bay – $17
6. Bagman – $26
7. Beaten Up – $41
8. Au Revoir – $17
9. Akzar – $9
10. Sonntag – $101
11. Star Rolling – $26
12. Spillway – $7.50
13. Real Love – $12
Melbourne Cup hopeful out for Autumn
The John Sargent-trained Kirramosa has been ruled out of The Championships this autumn with a hairline fracture to a pedal bone.
The four-year-old mare won the Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington in 2013 and it looked to be returning to form after winning a trial at Randwick on February 10.
Kirramosa was being set for the 2015 Melbourne Cup but those plans will be put on hold for the meantime.
“That's racing,” Sargent said. “It's really disappointing because she was back to her top. She came through that trial so well.
“But then she went sore and what I thought was a stone bruise ended up being a hairline fracture.
“She will need three months off. One month in her box, one in a yard then another month in the paddock.
“The good news is she should recover from this 100 per cent, so I'm confident she'll be back for the spring.”
Kirramosa will be looking to make a return to Flemington in the spring, a track which it has won it last two starts at – including the Crown Oaks and the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes.
Gatewood makes long shot claim for Melbourne Cup
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Gatewood will head to Melbourne following its impressive win at Rosehill last week.
The imported runner will contest the $1 million Australian Cup at Flemington on March 14 with eyes on the Melbourne Cup in November in sight.
Its win in the Listed Parramatta Stakes demonstrated great toughness and Waterhouse believes it has goods to win a major race.
“Greatwood leaves this morning to go down to Melbourne for the Australian Cup,” Waterhouse said.
“He was very tough. He was completely beaten but picked up and came again on Saturday.
“He's come out of the race beautifully. He's feeling great and we thought why not.”
Greatwood is currently a $26 chance for the Australian Cup and a long shot chance at $101 with Sportsbet.com.au for the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
Regular jockey Tommy Berry only had positive things to say about the promising type.
“He'll run all day,” Berry said. “He's a more seasoned horse this t