Melbourne Cup 2020: Cox Plate placegetter Russian Camelot to press on to Flemington classic

Danny O’Brien is set to have a strong hand in the 2020 Melbourne Cup with confirmation he’s pushing on with beaten Cox Plate favourite Russian Camelot.

Russian Camelot heads to the barriers for the Cox Plate. Picture: Getty Images

Danny O’Brien is likely to have four Melbourne Cup runners with confirmation Russian Camelot will head to the race provided he recovers fully from a gruelling Cox Plate third.

“He (Russian Camelot) ran out of his skin and seems to have pulled up well,” O’Brien said.

“He had to be ridden aggressively because of the (outside) draw, but he went super.

“We‘ll see over the next 10 days, but at this stage you’ll see him at Flemington on Tuesday week.“

O’Brien will saddle Vow And Declare with a jockey yet to be secured for the 2019 Cup winner.

Damien Oliver had first option the ride but has chosen to stay with Russian Camelot.

👏 SIR DRAGONET WINS #COXPLATE100! 👏

BOSSY DOES IT AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/HdoAEP7xHk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 24, 2020

O’Brien was delighted with VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound’s return to form with victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

“She’s pulled up super and will go to the Cup,” O’Brien said, confirming Daniel Moor’s appointment as the mare’s rider.

King Of Leogrance will be ridden by Damian Lane.

Mick Price was pleased with Oceanex’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup third.

“For her to run third, beaten a short margin, was excellent,” he said. “It’s a measure of timing. The soft track was helpful and the Melbourne Cup will be great for that mare.

“A soft track would be good for her and you can see the timing of it is working. Like I said, this (the Moonee Valley Cup) was a test and I thought she passed it no problem.”

Racing Victoria has updated the fitness status of Nickajack Cave and Dashing Willoughby after scans were taken on both gallopers.

Russian Camelot takes out the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

RV said Peter Moody’s stable had taken a CAT scan of Nickajack Cave and the horse “will now undergo (a) precautionary scintigraphy test.”

RV said the import would continue its Melbourne Cup preparation after galloping well at Pakenham on Saturday morning.

Andrew Balding’s Dashing Willoughby will also continue its preparation after the stable undertook a precautionary CAT scan after its distant last in the Caulfield Cup.

RV said the horse was “OK’ to continue its campaign but would be monitored by stable staff and veterinarians. 

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Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2020: Cox Plate placegetter Russian Camelot to press on to Flemington classic