Torquay links to Cup placegetters

TORQUAY racehorse owner Ray Dando says connections were perilously close to scratching young stayer Emissary before its stunning run in this year’s Melbourne Cup that claimed second in the famous race.

While the five-year-old gelding arrived at Flemington in strong form, including a win in the Geelong Cup a fortnight earlier, the wet conditions on Tuesday last week had raised doubts.

“The expectations on Cup day was that if we got a soft 5 or better we could win,” Dando said.

“Before the race one, of the co-owners had a race with another horse beforehand with [jockey] Damian Oliver, who said it was racing at a heavy 8; to be honest, there was discussions about scratching him. Our expectations weren’t high because of that, although he was in form.

“He still didn’t handle the wet ground that well in the straight, but he certainly surprised us.”

Emissary’s strong run behind Cup winner Gold Trip was enough for a share of the $1.1 million second-place prize purse and an evening at the racecourse’s Birdcage and at Crown Casino for its successful connections.

Dando predicted Emissary would have another crack at the Flemington race in years to come, likely with more ideal preparation at it moved up the qualifying pecking order.

Meanwhile, Torquay also had a link to the third placegetter High Emocean, which is part-owned by local man Brad Molloy.

The Molloy family has a long history with horses with Brad’s dad being a horse breeder, and the family had a stake in 2018 Australiasian Oaks group one winner Sopressa.

Molloy and his syndicate had a more volatile build-up to this year’s Cup and didn’t secure entry into the draw until about 48 hours from the race start.

“We won the Bendigo Cup on the Wednesday and didn’t find out we were in the Melbourne Cup until 4pm on the Saturday, just before the barrier draw,” he said.

“The barrier draw was crucial – Dad picked out number 8, which was good.

We were going there hoping to finish top 10. When she go to the corner we thought maybe she will, and she flew late; it was very exciting.”