Acid Test For Quest In Caulfield Cup

British raider Quest For More will be hoping to turn a few heads in Australia with a good run in the the BMW Caulfield Cup on October 17 as he gears up for next month’s Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The Roger Charlton-trained 5-year-old hasn’t been out of the first 2 places in 5 successive starts, including an impressive performance to win the highly competitive Northumberland Plate in July on his penultimate start. The Teofilo gelding was subsequently touched off by Big Orange at Glorious Goodwood and is set to use the Caulfield Cup as a stepping stone to the big one on the first Tuesday of November.

The horse’s handler has been pleased with how Quest For More has handled the long journey saying; “He’s been fresh and well since he got there and I’m told he looks a picture. The plan would be to run in the Caulfield Cup, where he currently sits 19 in the list of acceptors and 18 can run, so he should get in and Tommy Berry at the moment should take the ride.”

Hugh Bowman To Miss Trip To Paris

After winning the Chester Cup in May, Trip To Paris emerged as a real contender for the Melbourne Cup when following up in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and trainer Ed Dunlop is also planning a crack at the Caulfield Cup to get his charge fine tuned to Australian racing.

However, riding plans are now up in the air as provisional booking Hugh Bowman was handed an eight-day careless riding ban starting October 11 after a race at Randwick on Saturday. The jockey was hopeful of a reprieve from the officials and Tweeted the following upon receiving his ban; “Went to today’s hearing hoping for some apples. The stewards only had pears for me. #disappointed.”

Trip To Paris is rated a general $26.00 chance for the Melbourne Cup at Sportsbet, with Quest For More a huge $81.00 outsider, though those odds could soon shorten depending on the outcome of the Caulfield Cup. Ballydoyle runner Kingfisher ($31.00 William Hill) has plenty to find with the fancied Order Of St George, though may thrive if conditions underfoot at Flemington are on the quicker side of good and has been supported in the last few days along with possible Godolphin runner Secret Number ($41.00).