Two stables supporting Godolphin Flemington bid

A couple of Australian Derby placegetters and a French stayer, who is a Listed winner at Deauville will be out to provide a Godolphin sequel to the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

Tally, Nozomi and Big Blue run in the Listed Premium Stakes, the race that follows the Melbourne Cup on the Flemington card.

Tally (Michael Walker) and Big Blue (Michael Dee) represent trainer James Cummings for whom they are in their first preparation.

An ATC Derby placegetter at three, Tally resumed with a promising second placing, but has found it difficult to repeat the form in three subsequent runs.

“Tally hasn’t reproduced his best form at his last two starts, but he’s dropping significantly in grade from his last start in a race where a lot of horses were trying to qualify for better races,” Cummings said.

The trainer expects Big Blue to improve following his first up run.

“This former French horse is yet to win in Australia but he ran reasonably well in the Seymour Cup last start when he was first up and he looks better suited at Flemington,” he said.

Nozomi (Anthony Freedman/Zac Purton) is also a former ATC Derby placegetter who has been racing in encouraging form having recently finished fifth to Godolphin’s Folkswood in the Listed Cranbourne Cup.

“He’ll be suited by the trip and in this class and he seems to run very well at Flemington,” Freedman said.

Charlie Appleby has decided to scratch Kidmenever and will likely head to Sandown on November 18th.