Illustrious Blue has entered into Melbourne Cup calculations following his dominant victory in the Goodwood Cup overnight.
The William Knight-trained entire started at 8-1, and defeated 33-1 shot Electrolyser.
2007 Melbourne Cup runner up Purple Moon was third.
The Goodwood Cup, one of Europe’s premier two mile contests, has been won in recent times by the likes of Persian Punch, who finished second in the Melbourne Cup in 1998 and 2001, and Double Trigger, who started one of the shortest priced favourites in 1995 but failed to flatter behind Doriemus.
Last year, second placegetter Mourilyan subsequently finished third in the Melbourne Cup.
The trainer of Illustrious Blue said immediately after the race that Melbourne was now firmly on the agenda.
Γ’β¬ΕThe Melbourne Cup is a race we should think about, after Doncaster [Cup] or York [Ebor Handicap],Γ’β¬Β added Knight.
He was a Glorious Goodwood winner last year, defeating Warringah in the Glorious Stakes.
Crime Scene finished last, and subsequently beat all but Shocking in the Melbourne Cup.
The race was marred by a severe injury to favourite Age of Aquarius as he led the field four furlongs from home.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said the vets had done a good job, but that he was unlikely to race again.
Also a notable failure was the John Dunlop-trained Tactic, who finished near last, throwing Melbourne Cup plans into disarray.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
