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WITHHOLD will significantly enhance his Melbourne Cup aspirations with a top-two Geelong Cup finish.
A firming TAB $2.90 favourite to become the seventh international in 16 years to win the $350,000 Cup (2400m), Withhold is currently 33rd in the Melbourne Cup order of entry.
With a limit of 24 runners on November 6, he needs a combination of attrition and a promotion by finishing either first or second to move up the order.
Victory carries the potential for drawing a weight penalty. Prizemoney for second would propel the lightly-raced raider up at least two places.
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Handicapped with just 53kg in the Melbourne Cup, Withhold is a $15 shot to become the first British stayer to win Australia’s most famous handicap.
Trainer Roger Charlton had been desperate to avoid a re-handicap but is now resigned to running at Geelong, where he will be rivalled by two other horses who have quarantined at Werribee.
Casterton and Finche, now both trained by Chris Waller, will debut in Australia.
Withhold will attempt to emulate the Geelong Cup-winning feats of fellow internationals Media Puzzle (2002), Bauer (’08), Americain (’10), Dunaden (’11), Gatewood (’12) and Qewy (’16).
Kerrin McEvoy will ride Withhold, chasing his fourth win in the feature after success on Zazzman (’03), On A Jeune (’05) and Qewy.
“He’s a nice style of a horse so you’d like to think that he can go there and run really well,” McEvoy said.
“I rode him about a week ago and he felt really good. He worked nice and sharply, so everything say that he’s travelled out nicely.”
A win for Finche, currently 27th in Melbourne Cup standings, could lift the import into the field with a penalty
– with AAP
GEELONG CUP: 4pm (Race 7)
GEELONG CLASSIC: 3.20pm (Race 6)
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