Okita Soushi headed to Melbourne Cup after Moonee Valley Gold Cup win

Another name has secured a place in November 5th’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup. Ciaron Maher’s Okita Soushi earned his place by winning the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Friday.

The seven-year-old stallion has yet to win a Group 1 race in his long career. The betting sites have Okita Soushi as an outsider to the Melbourne Cup, but he is the second most likely to win out of Ciaron Maher’s potential runners.

Okita Soushi wins Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Okita Soushi entered the Moonee Valley Gold Cup as one of the outsiders to win the Group 2 race with $11 chances from the betting apps.

The son of Galileo looked on track to live up to those odds for most of the race. Okita Soushi was very much among the pack of trailing horses until the final turn on Friday.

Through the final turn, a surging sprint from the Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old allowed him to take the lead. Once Okita Soushi had it, he never looked back.

The stallion fought off a late challenge in the final 100m from Epsom Derby winner Serpentine to win the race.

Okita Soushi ended up winning the race by half a length to Serpentine ($2.20). Kiwi three-time Group 1 winner Sharp 'N' Smart ($5) finished in third.

Melbourne Cup redemption

With the win at Moonee Valley on Friday night, Okita Soushi booked a spot in the upcoming Melbourne Cup at Flemington on 5 November.

The seven-year-old moved to Australia last year to race in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. After underperforming in those races, Okita Soushi was transferred to Ciaron Maher’s team.

The Irish stallion finished 12th in the Caulfield Cup and 11th in his first Melbourne Cup run.

Trainer backs horse

Okita Soushi entered Friday night at 34th in the Melbourne Cup order. A strong performance in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup locked in his place. According to Ciaron Maher Racing assistant trainer Jack Turnbull, this was exactly the team’s plan for the seven-year-old.

“It’s always been the long-term plan when he came to us off the back of his last campaign in spring. It’s really good and pleasing when things work out in terms of timing,” Turnbull said.

The assistant trainer also said that he thinks Okita Soushi is in good form and that he has what it takes to do well in the Melbourne Cup next month.

“He’s just a classic stayer that wants twelve furlongs. Once you get him to that level, and at a level of fitness, he excels. He showed that last start, and he’s gone on and done it again today. He’s in really good form,” he said.