Australia: Ashrun needs Geelong win to keep Melbourne Cup dream alive

The European import Ashrun needs a win in Wednesday’s Group 3 Geelong Cup at Geelong Racecourse in Australia to help his chances of making the 24-horse field for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 3.

As of Monday, Ashrun was 34th on the list of potential runners, which is certain to change in coming days depending on race performances and how horses train. The Melbourne Cup is a two-mile handicap at Flemington Racecourse with a field largely determined by weight assignments for at least 19 runners. There are as many as five automatic berths available to winners of major stakes in Australia.

Ashrun, trained by Andreas Wohler of Germany, will have his Australia debut in the Geelong Cup at 1 1/2 miles. A 4-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, Ashrun was second in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay at 1 7/18 miles at Deauville, France, on Aug. 23 in his final start of the season in Europe.

Ashrun is winless in six starts since the Group 3 Prix de Reux at 1 9/16 miles at Deauville in August 2019.

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In the Geelong Cup, Ashrun is likely to be favored over San Huberto, Skyward, and Le Don de Vie, three other recent imports from Europe who are 30th, 37th and 38th on the list of Melbourne Cup candidates.

San Huberto, a 4-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, was third in the Belmont Derby at Belmont Park in September 2019 when trained by Fabrice Chappat of France. Earlier this year, San Huberto won the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at 1 7/8 miles at Chantilly, France.

Skyward, previously trained by Chappat, has won 4 of 7 starts, including the Prix du Reux at Deauville on Aug. 9. Skyward was later fourth of six behind Anthony Van Dyck in the Group 2 Prix Foy at Longchamp on Sept. 13. Anthony Van Dyck was a game second in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in his Australian debut last Saturday.

Skyward, a 4-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, is now trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

Le Don de Vie, a 4-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, won 4 of 12 starts in England. Earlier this year, when trained by Hughie Morrison, Le Don de Vie was fourth of 14 in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and won the minor August Stakes at 1 7/16 miles at Windsor Racecourse on Aug. 29 in his final start in Europe.

The Geelong Cup drew a field of 11 and is the seventh race on a nine-race program that begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday.

Two Australian runners who will be longshots in the Geelong Cup are being considered for the Melbourne Cup – King of Leogrance, who is 25th on the list of potential runners, and Platinum Invader, who is 33rd.

King of Leogrance won stakes in February and March. Platinum Invader was third in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 10.