Flemington feature firmly on the radar for classy stayer

Charlie Fellowes is eyeing up a crack at the Melbourne Cup with stable star Prince Of Arran.

After winning plenty of prize money at the Dubai Carnival, he has subsequently run well in the Chester Cup, the Belmont Gold Cup in America and was runner-up in the Northumberland Plate last time out.

“He’s a remarkable horse. For a horse that has been to Dubai, Chester, New York, and to the Northumberland Plate, he takes his racing so well,” said Fellowes, who has recently been appointed chairman of the Newmarket Open Weekend, which takes place on September 22-23.

“I was gutted to finish second in the Northumberland Plate because I really believe he deserves a big win.

“Withhold (winner) is obviously a very good horse, but I feel like he had the race his own way. For Prince of Arran to stay on the way he did, from out the back and off a slow pace, I think it was a huge run from him.

“The Melbourne Cup is now the plan. That is where I would really like him to go.

“He has proven that he likes travelling and seems to take it all in his stride. I think the conditions out there will really suit him. I think a big field, quick ground and a left-hand turning track are all big ticks in his box.”

Another with Melbourne aspirations is Andrew Balding’s Count Octave, last seen finishing third in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot.

“Count Octave’s likely route will be either the Lonsdale Cup or the Ebor at York. It depends on where Sheikh Fahad (owner) would like to run him, with the former being the more likely,” said Balding.

“However, long term, the aim is the Melbourne Cup.”