MORNING GALLOP . . . jockey Glyn Schofield on Nakeeta stretches out at Werribee Racecourse in preparation for the Melbourne Cup
PICTURE: JOHN GROSSICK
The seven-year-old bay gelding will face the biggest challenge of his career to date if he lines up, as expected, in the prestigious Emirates Melbourne Cup.
He has been in Australia for several weeks at his quarantine base and training ground, the city’s Werribee race course.
Hetland Hill Stables trainer Iain Jardine flew out to Australia at the weekend and joined his staff already there — brothers amateur jockey Bruce Lynn and travelling lad Chris.
Other Dumfriesshire connections of the stables are also heading downunder for the big race.
Jardine has secured the services of experienced Australian-based jockey Glyn Schofield, a veteran of the Melbourne Cup, the highlight of the city’s Spring Racing Carnival.
The 50-year-old South African rode 65 winners last year with 26 victories to his credit in the current season.
Jardine hopes the jockey’s intimate knowledge and experience of the race will help bring out the best in Nakeeta on the Australian track and spring conditions.
A spokeswoman for the Carrutherstown yard, base for 70 horses, said this week: “Nakeeta has settled in well and Iain is very pleased with how the horse has acclimatised and how he is performing during training.”
The Melbourne Cup takes place next Tuesday, November 7, at 3 pm (4 am UK time).
■ Final confirmation of the planned line-up will be on Saturday November 4.
PRESS CALL . . . Carrutherstown trainer Iain Jardine fields media questions in Australia during the build-up to next week’s Melbourne Cup
PICTURE: JOHN GROSSICK
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