Exciting French-bred galloper Eliyass is set to have his first start in Melbourne after galloping at the track on Tuesday.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper worked with stablemate Just Fine on the course proper at Flemington, the venue for his Melbourne debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
A veteran of 11 starts, for nine wins and two second placings, Eliyass is unbeaten in three starts in Australia, all at Randwick and all over the 2000m journey.
It had been expected after Eliyass scored in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes on September 21 the gelding would be bound for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
But Waterhouse explained Saturday’s race looked a better lead up to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.
“I think that this is a more traditional course that’s proven over the decades and probably the best way to go to the Cups,” Waterhouse said.
“And to be effective in the Cup, especially the Melbourne Cup, The Metropolitan doesn’t have the same strike rate.
“It’s still a very good race and a very nice to win, and maybe Serpentine can do that on Saturday.”
Waterhouse said Eliyass had the right credentials to be a good stayer and has 53kg in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup and more importantly she believes the gelding has the right credentials to be around the mark on Saturday.
Ethan Brown partnered Eliyass in his workout with Just Fine on Tuesday morning and it will be the jockey’s first ride for the Waterhouse and Bott stable.
“I like jockeys in form. I like jockeys that are on the up. I like young jockeys,” Waterhouse said.
“He falls into all those, ticks all those boxes.”
Just Fine will be joined by Sir Lucan for a ‘win-and-you’re in’ berth into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5 when they line up in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday.
“Just Fine is a Group 1 winner, winning the Metropolitan last year and he’s heading for the Cups also,” Waterhouse said.
“I think the 2500 (metres) will suit him great while Sir Lucan’s backing up after a rather poor run at Mornington (on Sunday).
“I’ll forgive him for that. He’s pulled up well and he was a happy chappy this morning, so I’ll have two runners in the Bart Cummings.”