All roads lead to the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup for Reliable Man’s Miami Bound following a commanding performance in Saturday’s Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
After almost a year in the wilderness, last season’s Victoria Oaks heroine will join stablemates Vow And Declare, King Of Leogrance and Russian Camelot in the Cup.
With the unstoppable Jamie Kah in the saddle Miami Bound defeated Shared Ambition (IRE) (Born To Sea) by two and a half lengths with Oceanex (Ocean Park) a half-length away third.
Miami Bound has not been placed in six starts since her oaks triumph however trainer Danny O’Brien does not believe that is a true reflection of her form.
“We’ve been very happy with her all spring but she’s a much better horse when she gets out in distance a mile and a half at least and obviously she grows a leg on the soft,” O’Brien said.
“So, there was a few things that worked in our favour today but it’s a big thrill to see her win again.
“She gave us a great thrill last spring in the Oaks and it was still a big effort to come back here and beat the boys.
“She has been running on firm tracks over unsuitable distances but on the soft 7 today she just grew a leg and she was never going to get beaten.
“I would think she would definitely be an acceptor (in the Melbourne Cup) now.
“She’s won that impressively and when you’re that close it’s pretty hard to not run.
“It’s been difficult for those fillies that have won an Oaks to come back and win Melbourne Cup, but I would say we’d be there on the first Tuesday of November and give it a crack.”
Also, the winner of last season’s Group II Wakeful stakes, Miami Bound advances her record to five wins and two thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $1,228,000.
Purchased by O'Brien Thoroughbreds out of the Westbury Stud draft for $120,000 out of book 1 at Karaka 2018, the daughter of the French Derby and ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man is a daughter of the 2007 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer) who has five of her six named foals to race with five winners, which include the $713,000 earner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago) who won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres.
A bargain $22,500 purchase at the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Arapaho Miss was purchased by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud for $650,000 out of the Amarina Farm draft at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and she was sent to New Zealand in 2015.
The 16yo daughter of Danehill Dancer has a yearling colt by Reliable Man (GB) and was covered by Tarzino last spring.
