Cup Bid for Precedence on Track

A powerful win by Precedence in Saturday's Group 2 $273,000 Cathay Pacific Airways Mooney Valley Cup (2500m) has put his Melbourne Cup tilt back on track.

Five-year-old gelding Precedence (Zabeel x Kowtow) was simply too strong for his rivals, producing another strong Mooney Valley performance to make it three wins from five starts at the course.

After jumping well from his wide barrier, Precedence slid in behind the leading pack settling nicely for the running in the box seat. Poised to pounce at the 600 metres, Blake Shinn got to work on the $2 favourite tracking three wide on the turn and taking the lead at the top of the straight. Never looking in any real trouble, Shinn in a hands and heels ride kept the son of Zabeel honest to the line to win by a length.

By sire of the moment High Chaparral, overseas stayer Above Average ran into second place, with third another New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, the Kiwi galloper Capecover (Cape Cross x Set Up) who ran a great race coming from last to fly around the tight Mooney Valley corner. Clearly relishing the extra distance, he is hitting his straps at the right time coming into the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Bart Cummings will be hoping to repeat history with the last horse to win the Mooney Valley Cup/Melbourne Cup double being Kingston Rule in 1990, which of course Bart trained.Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter has handed another penalty to Precedence after Saturday's win with 1.5 kilograms added to his Melbourne Cup weight. The penalty takes his weight in the Cup to 53.5kg, lifting him from 39th to 30th in the Order of Entry.

Owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam, Sir Patrick Hogan & The Dowager Duchess Of Bedford, Precedence was bought from Bloomsbury Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $180,000. Precedence has made 23 race day appearances for six wins and four minor placings earning connections over A$603,000 in stakes.

Precedence is now at $13 in the Melbourne Cup market along with fellow Kiwi hopeful, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Descarado.