Racing
Team Botti excited for Australian mission
The big Cups double in Melbourne are in the planning for a French-trained galloper.
Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti are gearing up for a daring Australian trip with talented stayer Presage Nocturne, with both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup firmly on the agenda.
The Italian-born handlers have hatched the daring trip that will see their stable star compete against some of the most talented stayers from both the northern and southern hemisphere.
A striking grey son of Wootton Bassett, Presage Nocturne has shown some fine form in his two latest outings in France, winning the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at Longchamp before running on strongly into third in the recently upgraded Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at the same venue.
Before making the trip to Melbourne, the five-year-old will have the chance to show his rivals what he's capable of on home soil, with Botti keen to head to Deauville for either the proven Melbourne Cup trial, the Prix Kergorlay (3000m), or the Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) in August.
"Presage Nocturne will probably run in the Caulfield Cup, but before that he'll run in either the Prix Kergorlay or Grand Prix de Deauville," Alessandro Botti said.
"He has already won two high-quality races, and he had a bit of a holiday after his run in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier to help him stay fresh for the end of the year."
Having finished a highly creditable fourth in the Group 2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh back in February, Botti has few concerns that his horse has what it takes to deal with making the lengthy journey to Australia.
"To take him to Melbourne, we need to go to Newmarket on September 1," Botti explained.
"He'll spend two weeks in quarantine before boarding the plane to Australia. I'll fly down for the Cup, which will be magic for the owners and I to attend."
Botti said thoughts of taking Prestage Nocturne is something he had mulled over, especially after taking the trip to Riyadh earlier in the year, noting the stayer was conditioned to flying.
Whilst running a horse in the Melbourne Cup will be a completely new experience for the Chantilly-based handlers, they will not be the first members of the family to contest the Melbourne Cup.
Their cousin Marco Botti was responsible for saddling Jakkalberry to finish third in the 2012 renewal.
"We're very close (with Marco) and I will approach him for advice about running a horse at Flemington," Botti said.
"I hope we can add the name of another French-trained horse to the Melbourne Cup honour roll.
"It won't be easy, and the competition is tough, but I think he's a horse who can adapt."
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