Charlie Fellowes is dreaming of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup with Prince Of Arran following his third placed finish in New York on Friday.
The five-year-old, who won a valuable handicap in Dubai earlier in the year, was beaten little over a length in the Belmont Gold Cup by a fellow Newmarket-based runner in the Queen's Call To Mind, trained by William Haggas.
Given his preference for a sound and even surface, Fellowes - who spent some time working in Australia - sees his charge as an ideal candidate to make the trip Down Under later in the year.
Fellowes said: "He ran a cracker and we're very proud of him. He is very ground and track dependant - he needs quick ground and a flat track. Anything between 14 and 16 furlongs is fine and I'm sure he'd get further if we wanted him to. Having a horse like him is invaluable for a small yard like ours."
The trainer added: "I'd love to take him to Australia. All the tracks out there are flat and round and you usually get quick ground, so it would really suit him. Whether he's high enough in the ratings to get a run in the Melbourne Cup, I don't know, but I think one of the conditions of getting into the race is you have to be placed in a Group race, so at least we've ticked that box now. There is a good staying programme down there and it would be great to take him. What we do between now and then we'll have to see."
The following afternoon Fellowes saw his progressive filly Crimson Rosette get within half a length of winning the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock.
The daughter of Teofilo faced a big step up in class after winning three of her previous four starts but justified her trainer's faith with an excellent effort in defeat.
Fellowes said: "It was a big step up for her, but she's a filly I've always held in high regard. She was impressive the time before at Doncaster and the second had won since, so I felt it was worth a go and she ran a great race. I think we were beaten by a smart filly (God Given) and hopefully she's got a bright future. We'll see how she comes out of the race. Whether we try and get some big black type or try and win a Listed race with her, we'll see. There are no immediate plans, but I've always felt she could be capable of winning a Group race and judged by her run on Saturday that isn't too far fetched."
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