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Could Gold Trip become the first horse to win back to back Melbourne Cups since Makybe Diva?
That’s what he faces should he head back to Flemington on the first Tuesday of November, following his devastating win in Saturday’s group 1 Turnbull Stakes, beating a crack field including imports Romantic Warrior and West Wind Blows and Cup aspirant Soulcombe.
He swooped from last to first under Mark Zahra in a blink of an eye, streaming away from his rivals in a win not only reminiscent but perhaps even more dominant than his Melbourne Cup triumph.
Last spring, Gold Trip attempted the three-peat of majors after his fifth-placed finish in the Turnbull Stakes, finishing second in the Caulfield Cup and an unlucky ninth in the Cox Plate before winning the Melbourne Cup, just his second career win to that point.
Saturday’s was his third, but that shouldn’t diminish how good the former French galloper is, given his demolition job of the Turnbull Stakes, a race won by the likes of Incentivise (2021), Verry Elleegant (2021), Winx (2017 and 2018) and Green Moon (2012).
Maher refused to put a ceiling on what Gold Trip could achieve over the next four weeks, although jockey Mark Zahra may have some say after committing a while back to riding Without A Fight in the Caulfield Cup in a fortnight’s time.
“He’s got to go to the Cox Plate, surely. They were a few of his major rivals there and the way he won why wouldn’t you go there,” Zahra said.
“If they’ve got any brains then they’ll go to the Cox Plate [instead of the Caulfield Cup].
“It’ll all work out perfectly for everyone.”
Romantic Warrior, the Hong Kong star who refused to eat his replica food before the Australian Government finally gave connections permission to import his favourite muesli, finished fourth as a $2.45 favourite, although jockey James McDonald was far from concerned.
“He was good. He needed the run a bit, so he will improve,” McDonald said, with Romantic Warrior losing his grip on Cox Plate favouritism following the showing.
Trainer Danny Shum said he was not happy with the performance, but not disappointed either.
“James said, ‘don’t be panicked’. He pulled and was a bit tired the last 100 metres,” Shum said.
Gold Trip soars past the finishing post.Credit: Racing Photos / Getty Images
“[McDonald] didn’t give him a hard time. He’s not 100 per cent fit yet, but this should bring him on for the Cox Plate.
“I always put the target on the Cox Plate, so we needed a lead-up race for him to see the adjustment, how he can handle the left turn and the Melbourne way of going.”
European import West Wind Blows was excellent running second in his first of two runs in Australia, which should bring him on for the Caulfield Cup.
Chris Waller’s Soulcombe was also terrific under Craig Williams, dashing up the fence to grab third as he continues his campaign towards the Melbourne Cup.
Maher said he would have to weigh up whether the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate best suits Gold Trip for his next run, and any give in the ground would play in the horse’s favour.
“I think Mark [Zahra] will be trying to push us towards the Cox Plate now because I think he might have one in the Caulfield Cup, but anyway he might have a bit of thinking to do now,” he said.
“He’s good at a mile-and-a-half, the weather plays into it, you see how dynamic he was with a bit of cut in the track today. I couldn’t be happier.”
Earlier, Maher and co-trainer Eustace booked a guaranteed ticket into the Melbourne Cup for Future History via a win in the Bart Cummings.
The six-year-old had not finished worse than second at his three most recent starts, before outstaying his rivals to win a golden ticket into the Cup.
The challenge connections will now have is to find a suitable jockey to ride light, at about 51 kilograms, in the Cup.
Eustace said the horse’s owner, Peter Trainor, had been extremely patient, and that patience was now being rewarded.
“He’s in London and he’s Irish and I spoke to him this morning, and he said that he hadn’t slept for two days. I should think he won’t sleep for a week now,” Eustace said.
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