Qualified runner Basilinna starts build up to 2025 Melbourne Cup

Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne will draw inspiration from recent Melbourne Cup shocks when aiming ballot exempt mare at the 2025 edition of Australia’s greatest race.

Basilinna qualified for a Melbourne Cup start with her win in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Knight’s Choice and Prince Of Penzance showed Pakenham trainer Emma-Lee Browne that anything is possible in a Melbourne Cup.

Shock wins have bobbed up throughout Melbourne Cup history with Prince Of Penzance and Knight’s Choice stunning the racing world in recent history.

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“I think often a story like that comes up through the Melbourne Cup and we’ve seen it a few times before with Prince Of Penzance and all those types,” Browne, who trains Basilinna in partnership with her husband David, said.

“Anything can happen can’t it?”

Basilinna is a $67 chance in early Melbourne Cup betting but she has a crucial advantage over many of her higher-rated rivals.

She has a guaranteed spot in the Melbourne Cup field, should she make it to the first Tuesday in November, courtesy of her win in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington in the autumn.

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Basilinna went to the spelling paddock after that win for a break but has returned to the Brownes’ Pakenham stable to begin the road to the Melbourne Cup.

“We’re in quite a good position already having that guaranteed spot but she’s back in now and she did super well in her spell,” Emma-Lee Browne said.

“She went out a very happy horse and they always do well when they go out happy.”

Basilinna will thrive on wet tracks if such conditions prevail on Melbourne Cup Day in November. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Browne said Basilinna was likely to take the proven weight-for-age path to the $8m event but that would entail racing over shorter distances early in her campaign.

She said the camp had not picked a first-up assignment for the rising five-year-old but the aim was to keep Basilinna happy during the long preparation.

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“Last prep, she thrived through the whole thing so hopefully that will repeat it,” Browne said.

“We’ll probably start her off a bit shorter this time.

“We started her off straight up at 2000m last time in but we’ll start her in shorter races, just trying to keep her happy and hitting the line.

“They will probably be a bit short for her but she’s probably at that level now where weight-for-age races will probably provide the path.”

However, the Brownes have no control over their biggest wish for Melbourne Cup Day.

“The wet track really helped her as she does seem to find another gear on those wet tracks,” she said.

“We’ll be hoping it rains in November.”

Originally published as Qualified runner Basilinna starts build up to 2025 Melbourne Cup