Gold Trip to Melbourne Cup

Gold Trip is aiming to become the first horse to run in all three Melbourne spring carnival majors for five years with connections keen to take the prized import to the Melbourne Cup.

If Gold Trip does add a Melbourne Cup run to his Caulfield Cup (second) and Cox Plate (ninth), he will become the first horse to contest all three since Humidor did so in 2017 when he finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup, second (to Winx) in the Cox Plate and then 19th in the Melbourne Cup.

Co-trainer Dave Eustace said on Sunday that Gold Trip had not been fully tested in the Cox Plate after striking trouble in the straight and been eased over the line on the back of a tiring Zaaki.

‘’He pulled up like he hadn’t gone around yesterday,’’ Eustace reported. ‘’He wouldn’t have blown a candle out so we’re looking at running him in the Cup.’’

Gold Trip may have finished ninth in the Cox Plate but this is how the RV stewards saw his passage:

Gold Trip (FR) Began awkwardly. Near the 300m disappointed for a run between Law Of Indices (IRE) and Young Werther (NZ) which was taken slightly out by Maximal (GB). Held up on the heels of Zaaki (GB) over the concluding stages.

Contesting all three majors was relatively common in past years, especially following the triumph in all three of Rising Fast in 1954, but it has been a rarity in the past few decades.

A run in all three majors would represent a significant turnaround in fortunes for the horse that once ran fourth in a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Last year, industry vets scratched him due to lameness issues from the Cox Plate. After further troubles in the autumn with a foot abscess, he eventually made his Australian debut at Rosehill in late July.

Gold Trip and three more of his stablemates will be among the fourth declarations (fee $4000) due by 10am on Monday for the following Tuesday’s $8 million Melbourne Cup.

HORSES TO CONTEST CUPS & PLATE IN SAME YEAR SINCE 2000

HUMIDOR (2017) – Darren Weir

5th/17 Caulfield Cup (Damian Lane, $6.50)

2nd/8 Cox Plate (Blake Shinn, $31)

19th/23 Melbourne Cup (Blake Shinn, $11)

MASTER O’REILLY (2008) – Danny O’Brien

7th/17 Caulfield Cup (Vlad Duric, $7.50)10th/12 Cox Plate (Vlad Duric, $14)4th/22 Melbourne Cup (Vlad Duric, $26)

ELVSTROEM (2004) – Tony Vasil

1st/18 Caulfield Cup (Nash Rawiller, $3.90)8th/13 Cox Plate (Steven King, $4.20)4th/24 Melbourne Cup (Steven King, $16)

DELZAO (2004) – Greg Kavanagh

5th/18 Caulfield Cup (Steven King, $17)6th/13 Cox Plate (Steven King, $41)23rd/24 Melbourne Cup (Steven King, $41)

ZAGALIA (2003) – Clarry Conners

6th/18 Caulfield Cup (Shane Dye, $14)4th/8 Cox Plate (Greg Childs, $31)5th/23 Melbourne Cup (Chris Munce, $13)

DIATRIBE (2000) – George Hanlon

1st/18 Caulfield Cup (Jim Cassidy, $9)2nd/13 Cox Plate (Craig Williams, $16)11th/22 Melbourne Cup (Jim Cassidy, $8)