“It was an incredible experience to be down there and I’m very lucky to have the association with Lloyd and Nick Williams who really guided me through the process of taking the horses down into quarantine and what’s needed to win the race and we’ve had an amazing few years taking our horses down there.” Mr O’Brien said.
O’Brien named four horses he is hoping will make the trip down under including Okita Soushi, Point King, Buckaroo and Valiant King, who ran second to current Cup favourite Vauban recently.
“The Melbourne Cup is such a special race, and it’s a race we like to compete in every year if we can and hopefully, we can do so this year again.” he said.
“Anybody who has been lucky enough to experience Cup Day understands the magnitude of the day and how special the race is and every time we’re there we pinch ourselves to be in Australia and Melbourne, competing in a race like that and hopefully we can be there again this year.”
At the race day, the Victoria Racing Club presented French thoroughbred breeder Michel Monfort, alongside two of his sons Maxine and Gauthier, with the Breeder’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Trophy for 2022 winner Gold Trip in the winner’s circle before the first race.
A prominent fixture on the French racing calendar, the meeting is highlighted by the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay, a race which has been won by Dunaden, Americain and Protectionist on their way to Melbourne Cup victories.
This year’s two-placegetters, Grand Alliance for trainer Charlie Fellowes and The Good Man, could both be heading toward the first Tuesday in November.
It would be French trainer Stephane Wattel’s first visit to Australia if he was to bring The Good Man.
“It is one of the most important races in the world...it would be a dream for all the partners, for the trainer, for everybody.” Mr Wattel said.
“If he stays in good form at this time of the year, if I see that things are possible, and it has been possible for French horses before, well why not!”
Melbourne Cup-winning French jockey Gérald Mossé spoke about his intention to return to Flemington for one final time before his impending retirement.