British trainer Charlie Fellowes has already stated that his stable star Prince Of Arran will be aimed at a fourth bid at the Group One Melbourne Cup next year after the seven year old placed for a third straight year in the event.
Prince Of Arran was looking to make it third time lucky after placing on both his tries in the event previously and his handler is over the moon with how he handled both his events down under having finished fourth of 18 at Caulfield before the Melbourne Cup.
Like the majority of his races, Prince Of Arran stayed out the two miles better than most of the runners with him doing his best work at the finish only being beaten by 1/2 length into third.
(Credit Racing Post) Fellowes said: “To finish third in a Melbourne Cup is remarkable even on its own. To place for a third year in a row is a really great achievement and one very few horses have done before.
“I’m unbelievably proud of my horse, of [groom] Aled Beech, who’s done a fantastic job with him, and proud of Jamie Kah, who was riding in her first Melbourne Cup and rode a beautiful race.”
JOSEPH O'BRIEN WINS THE #MELBOURNECUP !!
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) November 3, 2020
TWILIGHT PAYMENT makes all as he claims his second victory in the race in four years. Absolutely terrific achievement for one of the best young trainers in the game 👏🏼
🎬 @Racing pic.twitter.com/Zibm0iWZND
He added: “It’s hard not to look at the race and wonder what might have been. If we’d have had a clearer run around the bend might we have finished better than third? It’s hard to say and we didn’t. I just couldn’t be more proud of him.”
There was talk that the son of Shirocco was going to be retired after his third tint at the Australian feature, but Fellowes has explained that this is not the case.
After his previous two tries in the race he has headed off the Hong Kong for the Group One Hong Kong Vase, but this year this will not be the plan and he will return straight to England and rested ahead of the new season.
“I need to talk to the owner and the owner’s racing manager but while he’s healthy, happy and loving his racing I see no reason to retire him and I’m sure the owner will feel the same,” Fellowes said.
“He won’t go to Hong Kong this year on the way home and next year we'll be focused on getting him back down to have a fourth crack at the Melbourne Cup, his year will be built around it.
“We’ll race him sparingly so it’ll likely be Saudi Arabia, Dubai, one run in England and then two in Australia with one being the Melbourne Cup.”