ONE year ago, the reigning Melbourne Cup champion Fiorente dispelled any doubts of his genuine class over 10 furlongs, defeating a star-studded field to claim the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.
The brown stallion put in a brilliant performance, coming from last to do battle with 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon down the straight before prevailing at the finish for a dominant victory.
The son of Monsun has since been retired, covering 186 mares at Eliza Park International last year, making him the busiest first season sire in Australia.
In 2015, the Australian Cup could provide a similar result with Protectionist, another son of Monsun, aiming to complete the rare Melbourne Cup – Australian Cup double. The Kris Lees-prepared galloper was emphatic in claiming the nation's most prestigious two mile event last November, defeating perennial runner-up Red Cadeaux and a gallant Who Shotthebarman, and has since returned from a spell in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.
By running in the Peter Young, Protectionist struck another similarity with Fiorente, which also resumed after his Melbourne Cup win in the Caulfield feature, however, the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper left the track that day a winner, with Protectionist only managing a solid sixth behind Mourinho.
If Protectionist can bounce back to his breathtaking best, he will become just the fifth horse to win the Australian Cup – Melbourne Cup double, joining former legends Saintly, Makybe Diva, Let's Elope and Fiorente.
Punters are confident that Protectionist can return to the winner's list in this Saturday's Group 1 Australian Cup, emulating the task achieved by Fiorente just last year. The bay entire is currently $5.50 with William Hill to seize top honours, currently second elect behind Paul Beshara's Happy Trails ($4.60).
Happy Trails has been in superb form of late, with the three time Group 1 winner running a top second last start in the Peter Young. He will be third up this prep on Saturday so should be reaching peak fitness and he is already a Group 1 winner over the track and distance, taking out the Mackinnon Stakes last November.
Just two other runners are under double figures with William Hill for the Australian Cup, that pair being Mourinho ($9.00) and Spillway ($9.50).
The Group 1 Australian Cup is race seven at Flemington on Saturday, with the race set to commence at 4:30pm AEDT.
