Relentless Voyager set to kick off Australian campaign in Sydney after being barred in Victoria

Relentless Voyager could kick off his Australian campaign in the Rosehill Gold Cup after being barred from entering Victoria due to failing a vet exam prior to coming to Australia.

Relentless Voyager after winning at Epsom Downs in June. Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images.

A one-time Melbourne Cup fancy that was barred from entering Victoria could kick off his Australian career in Sydney on Saturday if he is deemed fit enough by master trainer Ciaron Maher.

European import Relentless Voyager was failed by Racing Victoria vets prior to coming to Australia, despite being high in betting for the Melbourne Cup, however connections are still eyeing spring riches, just in New South Wales instead.

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett is adamant the horse is “sound as a button” and has been passed fit to run by Racing NSW vets.

If he is deemed fit enough by Maher on Tuesday, Relentless Voyager will head to the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

READ| Import passed fit to race in NSW but not Victoria

“He gallops on Tuesday and if Ciaron is happy with it all, I’d say we would accept with him for Saturday,” Lovett said.

“He is sound as a button.

Relentless 💪@oismurphy is on the board for the day as he guides Relentless Voyager to a smooth success in the Long Shot Northern Dancer Handicap.@AndrewBalding2 | @EpsomRacecoursepic.twitter.com/ANgPoxGPpS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 1, 2024

“We are pretty keen for him to have a spin in the spring, if he is sharp enough, he could go to the Five Diamonds (1800m) because he is a five-year-old.

“If we need to step up in trip, which is probably my gut feel, there is a 2300m race (The Beauford) on Hunter Day at Newcastle (November 16).

🚨 Relentless Voyager! 🚨 Ready to compete in Sydney's top races: the $2M Five Diamonds or $750K Rosehill Gold Cup. Don’t miss this top-class contender! 🌟🐴💰🏆🇦🇺 #AustralianBloodstock#HorseRacing#ForSale#RelentlessVoyager 🐎💼🏇📈💥 pic.twitter.com/MrMBx3Wu7P

— Australian Bloodstock Updates (@ausbloodstock2) October 17, 2024

“Once we get a run into him, we can back off and get him ready for the autumn.”

Connections confidence in the gelding only improved last week when Onesmoothoperator made a mess of his rivals in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, with Lovett saying they carry similar formlines.

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“We think he is a really nice staying horse, and if you look at the horse that trotted up in the Geelong Cup, they finished together in The Ebor,” he said.

“They couldn’t make up ground that day in The Ebor, so I was pretty keen on that horse at Geelong because of the way the race was run that day and they finished seventh (Onesmoothoperator) and eighth (Relentless Voyager).

“I watched the race with intent, so it worked out well.

“We bought our horse thinking he’d be a live hope in the Cup.”

Originally published as Relentless Voyager set to kick off Australian campaign in Sydney after being barred in Victoria