Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish to sidestep Melbourne Cup in favour of Emirates

TRAINER Charlie Appleby has decided to bypass the Cup with Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish to instead tackle the Group 1 Emirates Stakes four days later.

GODOLPHIN spearhead Scottish is out of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup as Winx continues to shape the spring carnival — even while on a spell.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has decided to bypass Australia’s richest race to instead tackle the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) four days later after Winx’s connections opted out of the Emirates.

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The decision assures Matt Cumani’s Grey Lion a start — regardless of the Lexus Stakes result, while the withdrawal of Howard Be Thy Name after his listless fifth in the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday lifts another Godolphin runner Qewy to No. 23 in the Cup order of entry.

Scottish, a courageous Caulfield Cup runner-up to Jameka, was a TAB $15 chance for the Cup.

Godolphin still has potentially five Cup runners — the favourite Hartnell, Secret Number, Beautiful Romance, Qewy and Oceanographer, who needs to win Saturday’s Lexus Stakes to be guaranteed a Cup start.

Appleby’s assistant James Ferguson said the decision to opt out of the Group 1 $6 million Cup was due to the mighty Winx, who is heading out for a break rather than contesting the Emirates.

“Sheikh Mohammed and Charlie pondered it for a long time and I think, at the end of the day, with Winx coming out, it makes it a more viable option for everyone,” he said.

“At the end of the day, he (Scottish) was quite keen in the Caulfield Cup and if he was to do that again in the Melbourne Cup, it would ride him out pretty early.

“It’s back to his preferred trip at home and I think he would have a pretty good chance.

Appleby said: “Scottish has continued to do well since the Caulfield Cup and we are happy to have him dropping back in distance, from 2400m to 2000m for the Emirates.”

Scottish won the Group 3 Strensall Stake (1800m) at York in August.

Originally published as Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish to sidestep Melbourne Cup in favour of Emirates