The European Melbourne Cup challenge is starting to take shape

One of the main European trial races for the Melbourne Cup is the Ebor handicap at York. That was run on Saturday over about 2800m and was won by the Henry De Bromhead-trained Magical Zoe. She looks a likely contender to head to Melbourne later in the year. 

Vauban is back for another try

Sent off favourite for this race last year but he was only able to finish down the field in 14th. Trainer Willie Mullins felt that he got the horse's preparation all wrong, not something that happens often with him.

He was seen at York last week, winning the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup over 3256m. It was only a win by the minimum margin but he should have his confidence boosted by getting his head in front for the first time since August 2023.

Mullins has had plenty of close calls in this race down the years. Arguably the greatest National Hunt trainer at present in the UK and Ireland combined, he will leave no stone unturned in his bid to atone for last year. It might be foolish to completely write him off given who is in charge of his prep.

Magical Zoe has taken the Ebor route

As mentioned above, the Ebor was won at York on Saturday by Magical Zoe. It was only the fourth race on the flat of her career having been campaigned over hurdles primarily up to this point.

She has finished second and fourth in two visits to the famous Cheltenham Festival so she has the ability to feature on the biggest stage as well as the temperament to cope with big crowds and an occasion that could stir up a lot of other horses.

Just 13 starts in her life suggest that there is going to be further progression in the tank from here. It will be interesting to see what sort of impost she gets as she is a Group class mare in the making on the flat. 

In March at Cheltenham, she was beaten four and a quarter lengths by Absurde giving that rival 2.7kg. He finished 7th, beaten 5.45 lengths in the Melbourne Cup last year off 53kg which gives some sort of a line in.

Could Crystal Black be the Cup winner?

Although the form of Crystal Black is yet to show that he stays 3200m, he has been one of the biggest improvers in the last year in Europe. On August 12 2023, he was rated 77, he has won six of his seven races since, beaten just half a length when third in the other one. 

That winning form started over a distance of 1600m but he has shown this year that he stays 2400m strongly. He won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot in June before following up in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month.

The most recent of those was a career-best from him and the Melbourne Cup was mentioned as the aim immediately afterwards. He settles well and travels strongly so he could go well for a long way at Flemington, it is simply a matter of whether his stamina holds.

Three of the last seven winners have come from Europe. Rekindling in 2017, Cross Counter in 2018 and Twilight Payment in 2020. The weights have made it more difficult since then as the Europeans filled the trifecta in both 2019 and 2020. How will 2024 go?