Little Lastotchka ready to fire in Melbourne Cup at Flemington

Lastotchka will be out to prove size is no impediment to Melbourne Cup glory after the French mare had her first look at the Flemington track.

Jockey Craig Williams thought some of the seagulls at Flemington were bigger than his pint-sized Melbourne Cup mount Lastotchka.

Williams had his first ride on the French mare when she had her initial look at the Melbourne Cup track in a gallop on Tuesday morning.

Australian Bloodstock, whose colours were carried to victory by Protectionist in 2014 and Gold Trip last year, combined with trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr to buy the five-year-old after her latest win at Longchamp in September.

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Lastotchka’s compact size hasn’t stopped her winning four of 12 starts, including twice at Group 3 level, before heading to Australia.

Williams said Lastotchka’s small stature hid a long, smooth galloping action that was perfect for a staying mare.

Top jockey Craig Williams rode French mare Lastotochka in her first gallop at Flemington as she prepared to Tuesday week’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

“When I was going around, there were some seagulls on the track and I thought they were a bit bigger than my horse,” Williams said.

“As a rider, once she gets going and covers the ground in her gallop, she’s got such a good action.

“She’s a pony but she’s not a small horse when she gallops.”

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TAB has Lastotchka as a $21 chance in its latest Melbourne Cup market after her Flemington gallop.

Price said Lastotchka’s size wouldn’t be a barrier to her winning next Tuesday, especially as he said she was not much smaller than previous Melbourne Cup winners.

“It’s the motor and the soundness and the fitness, and how heavy was Twilight Payment?” Price said.

“They tell me he was a low 400kg or 410kg or something, she’s nearly there.”

🏇Lastotchka 🇫🇷🥇
(Myboycharlie 🇨🇮 - Muthla 🇫🇷, by Muhtathir 🇬🇧)

🏆 Prix Gladiateur
🇫🇷 Longchamp #Paris#Longchamp#Myboycharlie#SharpenUp#SadlersWellspic.twitter.com/FUtqPRIohE

— Aydın Stud (@aydin_stud) September 5, 2023

Price and Kent decided to import Lastotchka’s feed from France, which has helped the daughter of Myboycharlie settle into the Werribee quarantine centre.

“I got no complaints about her, she works and eats and we have imported feed she was on in France,” he said.

“We haven’t tried to change too much too quickly, which is not a very good idea, the work is good, the feed is good, the mare is good, perfectly sound and beautiful.”

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Williams and Price agree one simple factor would determine Lastotchka’s performance in the Melbourne Cup.

“She’s healthy, she’s happy, she’s going really well and she’s very fit,” Williams said.

“She’s ready to go for next week.

“Whether she’s good enough come Tuesday, whether she gets her preferred conditions, is another thing.”

Originally published as Little Lastotchka ready to fire in Melbourne Cup at Flemington