Onesmoothoperator heads to Australia despite Melbourne Cup uncertainty

Six-year-old stayer Onesmoothoperator is set to enter quarantine this week, with plans to target a range of lucrative Australian races, even though his spot in the Melbourne Cup on November 5 remains uncertain.

Trainer Brian Ellison has outlined alternative plans for the Northumberland Plate winner, eyeing races like the Geelong Cup, Bendigo Cup, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, all offering significant prize money.

Ellison is confident in his horse’s form following a solid preparation, including a fourth-place finish in the September Stakes at Kempton. “He’s in super form… he bounced out of Kempton really well,” Ellison noted.

Onesmoothoperator and his regular rider, Matt Brown, will travel to Australia regardless of the Melbourne Cup decision, providing valuable international experience for both. “There are some other races for very good prize-money over there too,” Ellison added.