Royal Empire warms up for Melbourne Cup bid

Saturday, Oct 26, 2013

Dubai: Godolphin’s Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) hopeful Royal Empire completed his first workout at the Werribee International Horse Centre in Australia, on Saturday, when he jogged over six furlongs in preparation for next month’s big race.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Saeed Bin Surour in Newmarket, England, is Godolphin’s sole representation in the 3,200m event, which takes place on Tuesday, November 5 at Flemington racecourse.

Royal Empire arrived in Australia last week and has reportedly settled in well to his temporary home away from home, according to Racing Victoria’s International Recruitment Officer Leigh Jordon.

Royal Empire had his last start on October 5 at Ascot, where he finished a noteworthy runner-up to stable-companion Secret Number in the Group 3 Cumberland Stakes over 2,400 metres. Prior to that he recorded a dominant victory in the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury in August.

UAE racing fans will remember that the son of Teofilo ran at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan, where he notched one win and two seconds before he ran a distant last to stable-companion Quick Wit when sent off as the odds-on favourite.

He was subsequently spelled for four months and emerged all the better for it when landing a Listed contest at Nebury in July.

Godolphin are bidding to win the Melbourne Cup for the first time since 1998, when Faithful Son finished seventh to Jezabeel.

They have seen three of their contenders finish seconds — Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene (2009) — while Beekeeper was third in 2002.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous and prestigous race. It is the richest two-mile handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races.

By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special ?Features Writer