Melbourne Cup main aim for Commissioned Royal Ascot hero Commissioned has the Melbourne Cup as his primary target after connections deciding against asking him to back up quickly in Saturday's Northumberland Plate. Part of the Bloomfields dispersal after John Ferguson retired from training to concentrate on his new role as chief executive and racing manager for Godolphin, the six-year-old was snapped up by Nick Bradley - formerly of Middleham Park Racing - for £65,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland sale at Cheltenham in April. He made his debut for his new owners and trainer Gordon Elliott in the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot last Saturday and struck gold under Adam Kirby. Bradley said: "When I went to the sale, he was the horse I wanted to buy. I paid a bit more than I wanted to for him but it's been a few years since I've been as excited about a horse as I was about him. "Saturday was obviously a great day and hopefully there's a lot to look forward to. "We had him in the Plate but Gordon just wanted to give him 10 days on the easy list. "The Goodwood Cup is a possibility, or we could go to York for either the Ebor or the Lonsdale Cup, but the Melbourne Cup is Plan A. "He won't be going back over hurdles. He doesn't look like a hurdler to me."
