Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray still to finalise spring plans for Melbourne Cup contender The Map

The Map will return to Flemington for Melbourne Cup Day, but her trainers have to work out how to get there.

Gun stayer The Map secured a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup with victory in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington – now the next challenge is getting there.

Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray are plotting a path back to Cup Day after winning The Macca’s Run (2800m) on last year’s undercard, this time with eyes firmly fixed on the race that stops a nation.

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Planning towards the Cup warrants a meticulous approach, especially given that the six-year-old mare will still be based in South Australia during her Cup build-up.

“She’s definitely come back bigger and stronger physically, she’s coping with the early work very well,” MacGillivray said.

“It’s a bit of a movable feast, where we head and what we do with her, just because of the tyranny of distance, going back and forth across (the border), which is sort of how we prefer to do it rather than base her in Victoria for any length of time.

“It just means we have to space runs accordingly, she will probably have her first little kick-off here (Morphettville) at the end of the month in the Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m).

“That will be a good balance of a pipe opener and a good enough hit out, then we can get a gauge as to where she is.”

The Map is going to the 2024 Melbourne Cup 🏆

Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray will have a runner in the famous race on the first Tuesday in November 🗺@LaneDamianpic.twitter.com/DJoYPdbDDf

— Racing.com (@Racing) May 18, 2024

The stable will then target runs at Caulfield with the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) both on the radar, before deciding between the Caulfield Cup or Geelong Cup (2400m).

“We put in a nomination for the Caulfield Cup, but we’re more likely to go to the Geelong Cup,” she said.

“Not that she had that much fun in it last year, but we know that the distance and the time frame between the Geelong and Melbourne Cup really worked for her last year when she won The Macca’s Run.”

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Amid the earnestness of programming a Cup preparation, Clarken and MacGillivray are soaking in this year’s journey to a maiden Cup tilt.

“We are still pinching ourselves – it’s an absolute dream – we obviously don’t have the big numbers to choose from, like some of the big stables that regularly have Melbourne Cup runners,” MacGillivray said.

“It’s a huge thrill, but we wouldn’t be aiming for it unless we thought we were in it for the right reasons and with a big chance.

“It’s exciting for us, and for so many people in SA to see a local have a Cup chance, I’m glad that we are getting to enjoy it with friends, family and anyone else who wants to be involved – it’s a great thing for the state’s racing.”

The Map winning the The Macca’s Run on Melbourne Cup Day last year. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos

Stablemate A Samurai Mind will line-up on Saturday’s nine-race card at Morphettville.

The promising gelding posted a commanding win second-up on July 27, and will tackle a Benchmark 76 over 1600m.

“He’s bigger, stronger, more mature and definitely mentally starting to figure things out,” MacGillivray said.

“It was fantastic to see him win (last start), he’s come through that terrifically well, he’s a lot more confident and relaxed, even around the stables than he was last preparation.”

The Map is currently a $26 chance with TAB’s pre-nominations market for the Melbourne Cup, Ciaron Maher-trained stayer Circle Of Fire is an $11 favourite.

Originally published as Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray still to finalise spring plans for Melbourne Cup contender The Map