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The Kris Lees-trained Cleveland wins Moonee Valley Gold Cup: Result and replay

Cleveland has won the $750,000 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) and is now set to run in the Melbourne Cup.

James McDonald rides Cleveland to victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Photo:Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.
James McDonald rides Cleveland to victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Photo:Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.

Cleveland sailed to victory in the $750,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) to cement a position in the Melbourne Cup on November 7 at Flemington.

Champion jockey James McDonald nestled Cleveland behind the speed in the run and surged past inside the final 50m to salute on the Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned stayer.

“He was really solid, he was there for me when he curled up on the bend and gave a great turn of foot, he felt excellent, onwards and upwards,” McDonald said.

Trainer Kris Lees confirmed the Melbourne Cup ambition.

“We hope so. He’ll come on again, I think he’s found a bit of form and I think he’ll hold it now,” Lees said.

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Vow And Declare, the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner, and Future History, who booked a place on the first Tuesday in November with victory in the The Bart Cummings last start, rounded out the top three.

The placegetters were big runs given they were three-wide throughout.

The Moonee Valley Gold Cup has produced four Melbourne Cup winners in the same season, with Kingston Rule the most recent in 1990.

Prince Of Penzance won the 2014 MV Gold Cup, returned the following year to run second and then subsequently won the Melbourne Cup.

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Nick Williams hugs James McDonald after Cleveland’s win. Picture: Michael Klein.
Nick Williams hugs James McDonald after Cleveland’s win. Picture: Michael Klein.

Favourite Lunar Flare endured a luckless run in traffic, trapped on the rail, but got out late to grab fourth in a solid Melbourne Cup tune-up.

The heavily-backed Athabascan, awkwardly placed 32nd in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry, went to the line untested behind the tiring Regal Power and Fancy Man.

The John O’Shea-trained galloper could be forced to qualify for the Cup through the Hotham Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day.

Earlier on the card, Ain’tnodeeldun arrived in the nick of time to win the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) from Red Sun Sensation and complete a hat trick of wins.

The Moody-Coleman-trained She Dances proved too speedy in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes.

Originally published as The Kris Lees-trained Cleveland wins Moonee Valley Gold Cup: Result and replay

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/cleveland-wins-moonee-valley-gold-cup-result-and-replay/news-story/9396e55403cdc7d80459f2c0af769d7d