Gatewood shut out of Melbourne Cup run - Herald Sun

A perfectly executed race plan devised in a phone call between jockey Glen Boss and English trainer John Gosden has enabled Gatewood to triumph over Chateau Margaux and Brigantin in the Geelong Cup and keep the race in grip of the international raiders for the third consecutive year.

British stallion 'Gatewood' places himself in the Melbourne Cup picture with a great run to win the Geelong Cup.

Form jockey Glen Boss extends Gatewood in the closing stages to win the Geelong Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

IMPOSING UK stallion Gatewood will not run in the Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter handed the horse a 1kg penalty for Wednesday's Geelong Cup win, taking him to 52.5kg and just No.36 in the order of entry for the Cup.

It effectively ended OTI Racing partners Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson's Cup dream.

"We are devastated," Henderson said.

"There is no Plan B (winning another race to qualify), and it is hard to see him making the field the way it stands."

Only 24 runners contest the Cup, and Gatewood would need a lot to drop out.

Second declarations come out on Monday.

A 1.5kg penalty - given to Media Puzzle when he won the Geelong Cup and then the Melbourne Cup in 2002 - would have taken Gatewood from 41st to 29th in order of entry, with every chance of making the field.

Gatewood was backed from $26 to $11 after the Geelong Cup win, but has drifted back to $26 with TAB after yesterday's penalty.

French stayer Brigantin was yesterday bearing the scars of a rugged Australian initiation after a brave third in the Geelong Cup.

The chestnut sported bandaging above and below his nearside hock and has been poulticed on both forelegs.

Asked about the health of Brigantin, the $11 fifth favourite for the Melbourne Cup, track rider Florian Bouvarel said: "He's OK". The Andre Fabre-trained stayer was walked inside the Werribee quarantine centre as several fellow French internationals, including Dunaden and Americain, worked on the course proper.

Stewards reported Brigantin twice brushed Geelong Cup second placegetter Chateau Margaux in the home straight, which prompted jockey Umberto Rispoli to lodge an unsuccessful protest against Peter Moody's mare.

Brigantin underlined his staying prowess, attempting to chase down Gatewood in a race controlled by the frontrunners.

After dawdling through the first 1800m, Gatewood stormed over the last 600m in a blistering 32.09sec.

The Dermot Weld-trained Galileo's Choice was impressive at Werribee yesterday as he continues to peak towards the Cup in 12 days.