Cup Ace Distinction Is Melbourne-Bound

Distinction booked a return trip to Australia with a battling victory in the the Lady O Goodwood Cup at Goodwood on Thursday afternoon.

Continuing his red-hot streak of form, jockey Mick Kinane took the Gold Cup runner-up to the lead with over three furlongs to run and Sir Michael Stoute´s charge bravely held off Mark Johnston´s Golden Quest to take the Group Two feature by half a length.

And no sooner had the six-year-old passed the post than talk turned to a tilt at the Melbourne Cup, the race in which the gelding finished sixth last year despite being unsuited by the testing conditions and meeting trouble in running.

The ground looked likely to be just as soft after Wednesday´s rain. But a bright and dry morning improved conditions, much to the relief of connections.

Stoute confirmed that Australia was on the agenda, possibly taking in the Caulfied Cup before the big one, a plan which he was due to follow last year until a blood problem ruled him out at the eleventh hour.

'He handled soft ground in the Melbourne Cup but this is different - it is sticky and I was worried as he goes so well on firm ground,' the trainer said. 'But he has won and that is the main thing.

'Things can go wrong but he is certainly a suitable type for the race, as he proved last year.

'He just got a little bit far back (in Australia), it was unfortunate, but he came out of the race with a lot of credit and he deserves to have another shot.'

Harry Herbert, racing manager for the Highclere Racing ´Orangery´ syndicate who own Distinction, added: 'Mick did the right thing in kicking for home three furlongs out.

'He is brave, strong and has proved that he goes on any ground. He is so versatile - he showed that he can handle firm ground when he was second at the Royal meeting and now we have seen that he can do it in the soft.

'Last year we went into quarantine in early September and I imagine he will have just one more race before then, which could be the Lonsdale Stakes at York as we know he goes well there.

'I think he´s definitely come on since last year. You only have to look at him to realise that he is a huge horse now.'

But it is the issue of who will take the reins in Melbourne which could give Herbert a degree of headache.

In last year´s Melbourne Cup home rider Darren Beadman came in for considerable criticism for his choice of tactics and his services will not be required again.

'He is Johnny Murtagh´s ride,' Herbert said, before pausing. 'I don´t know. Mick gave him a great ride today. I think we will have to leave it to Sir Michael to sort that one out.'

The 8-1 runner-up was the only horse to get near the winner as he came from out the pack to give chase, but just as he looked likely to throw down a winning challenge, the well-supported 11-4 favourite found more in front.

It was Millenary who plugged on best of the remainder to take third place, albeit a further eight lengths adrift.

Only 24 hours after giving Proclamation such a fine ride to win the Sussex Stakes, Kinane´s talents were well and truly on display again here.

'He´s travelled really good, but we were a shade worried about the ground with him,' said the jockey.

'But he did it really well and I knew he´d stay and I didn´t want to break his rhythm.

'I was starting to worry that I´d gone too soon when the runner-up came after me but in fairness to my horse, he had the race well won in the last five strides and was running on again.

'It was a long last furlong on ground that was slower than he would like, but he pulled it out well.'

Golden Quest was displaying toughness typical of his stable as he made a quick reappearance from his handicap victory on the opening day of the meeting.

He is also entered for the Melbourne Cup, but has a closer-to-hand engagement to deal with first as his performance propelled him to the head of the totesport Ebor market.

'Two furlongs out we thought he wouldn´t get there, but one furlong out and we thought he would,' Johnston said.

'I was dubious about running him in this race when he was so far out on the ratings, but it´s been worth coming.

'He won his handicap on Tuesday and now he´s run a great race here. It´s probably the Ebor next - that was a good trial for anything.'

Golden Quest has been cut to 8-1 with Ladbrokes and Totesport for the big handicap at York, while Paddy Power make him a 7-1 chance.

John Dunlop, trainer of third-placed Millenary, said: 'He seems as good as ever which is surprising for an eight-year-old horse who is still an entire.

'The ground suits him well and he enjoyed it out there today. He travelled well for a long way before he came off the bridle two furlongs out.

'We will now have a look at the Lonsdale Stakes (at York).'

? PA Sport