Connections of High Emocean will be sweating on a run in the $7,750,000 Melbourne Cup after the daughter of Ocean Park scored a hard-fought win in Wednesday’s $500,000 Group III Apiam Health Bendigo Cup (2400m).
Making it back-to-back wins in the race for Harry Coffey, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare denied the Camelot (IRE) gelding Port Phillip a fifth consecutive win by (IRE) a head with the pacesetting Verimli (Born To Sea) one and a quarter length back in third.
Stable representative Jack Turnbull said it will be a waiting game to see if High Emocean can make the Melbourne Cup field.
“Massive result for the team, and hopefully she has done enough to get into the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, and we’ve picked up a healthy cheque today,” Turnbull said
“She loves Flemington, she loves soft ground, and the forecast looks a bit dismal. Fingers crossed she can sneak in.
“Ten-out-of-ten ride by Harry. They went pretty true throughout and we lobbed in a great spot to do that.
“She took the length of the straight but got there on the line.
“She takes a little time to pick up and warm up. That’s why she loves Flemington, and we were a little bit hesitant of that.
“We said to Harry, ‘don’t let the race get away on you’, to have her there and stoke her up being ready.
“The leader put a few (lengths) on her but he was patient and got the win.
“This will mean a hell of a lot to the Ballarat stable. Not only to the Ciaron Maher Racing brand but particularly in Ballarat. She works and trains out of there and the team do a fantastic job."
Purchased by John Foote Bloodstock / Darren Weir Racing for $80,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, High Emocean advances her record to seven wins, five seconds and three thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $705,635.
A half-sister to Listed stakes winner Elate (Savabeel), High Emocean is one of five winners from as many to race out of the unraced High Chaparral (IRE) mare High Joy.
A half-sister to dual Listed winner Emperor Bonaparte (Montjeu), High Joy is out of the Group 1-paced dam Endless Joy (Centaine), a half-sister to the 9-time Group 1 winning champion Bonecrusher.
High Joy died in 2020. Her final foal is the unraced 3yo Iffraaj (GB) filly Hoard The Bubbles.
