UK trainer Hughie Morrison has set Prix Kergorlay winner Marmelo for a crack at "one of the great flat races in the world" at Flemington in November.
Marmelo comfortably defeated leading Melbourne Cup fancy Red Cardinal in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville earlier this month to have connections initially considering a shot at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later this year.
However, Morrison told At The Races that Melbourne is a likely destination for Marmelo, who was one of 31 internationals entered in the 2017 Melbourne Cup for which the stayer is a $21 chance in the latest Sportsbet market.
"The owners are very keen to go and I think he's a progressive four-year-old that we can still find improvement from," Morrison said.
"He's a big horse who could carry the weight and if you're going to go, this is probably the year you've got to go.
"It's one of the great flat races in the world. The Derby here is the greatest race and behind that you have the Arc and then the Melbourne Cup, probably a close third in my book."
Protectionist won the Prix Kergorlay before claiming the Melbourne Cup in 2014 while Americain defeated Manighar in the 2010 edition of the French feature before winning the Melbourne Cup two starts later.
