Port Guillaume hoping to win second straight Flemington Cup for Lindsay Park

The 2024 Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) is right around the corner. The Victorian Racing Club and Flemington Racetrack are set to host the $150,000 annual event on Saturday, 20 July.  
 
Historic Victoria-based trainers and breeding firm Lindsay Park Racing are hoping to win the Flemington Cup for the second straight year with their gelding Port Guillaume. The seven-year-old is one of the horse racing betting favourites, but will face off against tough competition.  

Lindsay Park going for back-to-back wins 

Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainers Lindsay Park saw their horse Mimi's Award win the 2023 Flemington Cup last year. 
 
The then-five-year-old won after a brilliant sprint in the final 400m. Mimi's Award went stride for stride with the betting sites favourite Mostly Cloudy before pulling ahead by a neck in the final 50m.  
 
After the win, Rob Slade, Mimi's Award’s managing owner, donated the trophy to Deane Lester’s mother Sandra to honour her recently deceased son.  

Port Guillaume to star at Flemington 

With Mimi’s Award of the running, the Hayes brothers and Lindsay Park will be counting on Port Guillaume to deliver them a second straight Flemington Cup win. The seven-year-old gelding finished fifth in last years’ edition, but looks to be a strong contender this season. 
 
“He would be a genuine top three, top four chance, if he gets his preferred conditions,” Ben Hayes said.  
 
According to Hayes, Port Guillaume runs better on dryer tracks. “He’s okay in the wet, but (he’s) better with some firmer footing,” Hayes said.  
 
After the rain storm in Melbourne on Monday, he is hoping for a dry week before Saturday’s race.  
 
Port Guillaume comes into the $150,000 Flemington Cup following a series of hurdle races.  
 
“He’s come out of his (Australian Hurdle) win well,” Hayes said, “and I thought his run on the flat last time was good. 
 
“He loomed up and just got outsprinted a bit. He’s competitive at a high level on the flat and when he gets over the jumps, he goes really well.” 
 
Win or lose on Saturday, Port Guillaume is set to run in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on 4 August at Sandown. 

Flemington Cup favourites 

The early betting apps favourite for the Flemington Cup was Berkshire Breeze, who convincingly won the Banjo Paterson Series Final on 6 July. However, the Ciaron Maher-trained horse is being rested ahead of the spring season.  
Taramansour, who finished second in the Banjo Paterson Series Final, is expected to be the new Flemington Cup favourite. 
 
Chris Waller’s Born A King and Duke Of Hastings and Farag of New Zealand were also nominated for the Flemington Cup this week.