A new Melbourne Cup favourite has emerged overnight, with Deauville Legend bolting to the top of the market following his dominant win in the Group 2 Grand Voltigeur Stakes at York.
The talented son of Sea The Stars took his record to three wins from seven starts, while it was also his second win in Group company.
As a result, has installed him as a $13 chance to win the Cup, displacing Duais ($15) as the outright favourite.
The James Ferguson-trained galloper will now head to Australia in a bid to join the likes of Cross Counter and Rekindling as Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds to win the race that stops a nation.
Owned by Bon Ho, who is no stranger to Australian racing, Deauville Legend will now head into quarantine before joining Ho’s Everest champion Classique Legend in Australia.
The classy Deauville Legend readily lands the £200,000 G2 @SkyBet Great Voltigeur Stakes for @jamesferguson89 & @D_Muscutttt at @yorkracecourse #EborFestival pic.twitter.com/fpFY9tKsoX
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 17, 2022
“He has genuinely improved from run-to-run-to-run,” Ferguson told Racing TV.
“He hasn’t been short of runs this year, we felt he’s come out of each race so well, the team at home have done a wonderful job and with the permission of Bon Ho, we’ve been allowed to run him here today and I think that’s teed him up very nicely for a trip down to Australia.
“He’s strengthened up with age – as they all do – from two to three, but we’re just very grateful; we’re just honoured to train such lovely horses.”
Deauville Legend will start the quarantine process in mid-September, before contesting the famous two-mile race at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Although the gelding holds a nomination for the Caulfield Cup and features prominently in early betting markets for that race, Ferguson is leaning towards having just one Australian run with him.
“He’ll probably go into quarantine mid-September and aim to be in Australia beginning of October in time for the Melbourne Cup on the 1st of November, but obviously that will have to be discussed with the owner beforehand,” Ferguson said.
“I think I’ll go straight there (Melbourne Cup), but yet to be decided.”
Winning rider Danny Muscat shared a similar opinion to Ferguson, saying the horse has progressed with every run.
“This horse has done nothing but improve each start,” he said.
“I thought Goodwood was probably a career-best so far and I think he’s taken a step forward again today.
“I don’t see why not, he’s a very professional horse now and he’s thrived off – he’s had quite a hard campaign already this year – and he’s shown his constitution well, so that would bode well to go down there.”
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