The Grey Wizard, who finished a distant second in Wednesday’s Nashville Gold Cup at Kentucky Downs, is now considered unlikely to make the journey to Australia for a shot at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in November.
Trainer Graham Motion shared Thursday in a text to Horse Racing Nation, "I think it’s unlikely at this point," putting to rest speculation after recent reports from Australian media suggested The Grey Wizard was "a late entry" into the US$5.3 million race. In Australian and European racing terminology, an "entry" refers to a nomination, similar to the U.S.
Earlier in the week, Motion had stated, "We’ve had to start looking into it because decisions will need to be made quickly if we decide to go." Ultimately, the outcome of the 2 1/16-mile Nashville Gold Cup would be a deciding factor.
In Wednesday's race, the 5-year-old Caravaggio gelding, co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and the estate of Albert Frassetto, settled at the back for most of the contest. Ridden by John Velázquez, The Grey Wizard gained ground on the backstretch and approached within a length of the leader on the final turn. However, Limited Liability, the pacesetter, held on and surged to an 8 1/4-length victory, with The Grey Wizard, the 4-5 favourite, finishing second.
Although The Grey Wizard’s June win in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) at Saratoga earned him an automatic Melbourne Cup invitation, and his follow-up victory in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park added to his credentials, Wednesday's result diminished the likelihood of an Australian venture.
When asked about future plans, Motion commented, "It’s a little hard to say at the moment, but there is a two-mile race at Far Hills in New Jersey." This race would be the $100,000 John Forbes Stakes, scheduled for Oct. 19.