By Daithi Harvey
Sir Mark Prescott has revealed plans to aim his progressive stayer St Michel (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. The 4-year-old colt has already showed he has the temperament to deal with the demands of international travel when he was beaten just a neck by Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in the GIII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. in New York last month. “St Michel is heading for the Melbourne Cup and he'll probably have one run somewhere before he goes,” Prescott said. “He'd get into the race in most years with his current rating but if he doesn't he'll run in one of the other big races down there.” Like many of Prescott's horses St Michel came up through the handicap ranks, winning four such races last year before a great run when third in the G2 Doncaster Cup saw his rating shoot up from 93 to 112. The trainer also provided an update on his sprint star Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) who has been beaten favourite on her last two starts, most recently when failing by a short head to Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G2 Sapphire S. at The Curragh ten days ago. “We were disappointed to be beaten, but she only had 5lb in hand on the ratings. The race didn't quite go according to plan and she was beaten a short head, that's life. She's come out of it fine and I would imagine she'll go to Goodwood and or York,” he added.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
