George Boughey feels that the 2026 Melbourne Cup will be tailormade for Hopewell Rock after he went down by the narrowest of margins in the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York on Saturday.
Purchased by powerhouse Qatari-based owners Wathnan Racing earlier in the season, Hopewell Rock ($7.50) arrived at York with leading claims having won a valuable handicap at Glorious Goodwood last time.
It looked as though he might land another sizable pot when joining Daiquiri Bay deep inside the final furlong, but with the rail to help, the latter found more when challenged and edged home to strike by a diminishing head.
“I think he’s more than justified going there now,” Boughey said.
“He was a horse who has always promised a lot and now he’s starting to deliver. The Melbourne Cup has been the plan for a while; he’s a very straightforward and honest horse who clearly stays the trip well.
“He loves a big field, so I think he’s absolutely tailormade for it.
“He had a stop-start three-year-old campaign and never really got into a rhythm but since he’s been gelded, he has stepped up another level.”
Hopewell Rock takes the feature at @BathRacecourse!
This @gbougheyracing-trained two-year-old remains unbeaten, getting the better of Castle Gates under @loughnane_billy in a contest previously won by Arrest and Dallas Star… pic.twitter.com/5Rzu2bTtZP
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2024
It would be a first runner in Australia for the ever-growing Wathnan Racing operation, with Richard Brown, racing advisor, also keen to make the trip.
“We’ll chat to George and I need to check if we have still qualified there,” Brown said.
“The guys from Melbourne grabbed me straight after the race but I need to go and find them again now!”
According to the qualification criteria for the Melbourne Cup, Hopewell Rock’s second placing passes a crucial clause but the gelding will need to improve on his 106 rating to climb into the final field of 24 runners.
For the winner, trainer Alan King was firm in his thing to bypass the golden ticket with Daiquiri Bay ($10).
“I don’t travel! You’ve done well to get me to Yorkshire!,” winning trainer Alan King said.
“He’d make a nice hurdler wouldn’t he! This has been the plan since Ascot. We said we’d put him away for the Ebor after that. He had a tough race at Ascot where he broke the track record, but his preparation has been great and the rain came, which was a help.”
