Melbourne Cup on the agenda for Queensland chasers

By Jordan Gerrans

The Sunshine State already boasts the Melbourne Cup in one racing code for 2024 and there are ambitious plans to add another later this month.

Sunshine Coast galloper Knight's Choice famously claimed the race that stops the nation last week for Brisbane-based jockey Robbie Dolan and the Caloundra training team of John Symons and Sheila Laxon.

With the Melbourne Cup in the greyhound code fast-approaching, Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi believes he has a couple of Queensland dogs in his kennel that he thinks will give the famous race a serious shake.

The Rowsley-based Azzopardi lifted the Group 1 Melbourne Cup back in 2019 with Whiskey Riot so he certainly knows what it takes to prevail in the time-honoured event.

Hotel Whisky One (previously prepared by Mathew Vincent in Queensland) and Inconspicuous (Warren Nicholls) headline Azzopardi’s Melbourne Cup hopes, from a Sunshine State perspective.

Hotel Whisky One scored impressively in the Group 3 Goulburn Cup earlier this month and broke the track record in the process.

He scorched the track in 24.15 seconds over 440 metres.

It was a red-letter afternoon for the combination of Vincent and Azzopardi as littermate Augustus Finch claimed the Group 3 Fireball Final at Goulburn.

Queenslander Vincent and his family were on track to celebrate the significant occasion.

Hotel Whisky One will head to a prelude of the Melbourne Cup this week before turning his attention to the heats the week after.

Azzopardi believes the brindle dog is up to the challenge, with the Final to be held on November 30. 

“He has the runs on the board, he is already a Group winner,” the top trainer said.

“He was racing some of the best in Sydney in that race. His pace puts him into the race all the time, I just hope he can stay sound and get a run out of it.

“It is pretty hard to see him not being competitive in a series like the Melbourne Cup. I just need to get him there at his best.”

As well as Hotel Whisky One and Inconspicuous, Azzopardi will also campaign Pass The Buck towards the Melbourne Cup series.

He says Pass The Buck is the best chance from his kennel of the three for the series.

Hotel Whisky One is a son of multiple Group 1 champion Whiskey Riot who Azzopardi prepared throughout his career which was underscored by a Melbourne Cup triumph in 2019.

The experienced Azzopardi campaigned dogs north to Brisbane during the winter of this year and kept a close eye on Whiskey Riot’s progeny when Hotel Whisky One qualified for the Flying Amy Classic.

The Warner-based Vincent has found immense success with his home-bred Whiskey Riot and Flying September litter who Azzopardi is preparing now.

The multiple Group 1-winning conditioner is full of praise for the job Vincent did with his home-bred team and says Vincent can now enjoy the ride from afar.

The Victorian mentor believes Hotel Whisky One and Augustus Finch have enjoyed the southern switch, which has led to their career-best form. 

“I think it is the change really, going around at one track mostly might have sent them a bit stale,” the experienced dog man said.

“They came to me in mint condition, he sent them to me in absolute mint condition.

“I think the different scenery and a different way of training, we are on a big farm here and walk a lot, they just love it.

“They have definitely not gone faster, they are just more consistent now because I have been moving them around a bit.”

The Nicholls-owned and bred Inconspicuous contested the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park last month and has since won at Geelong ahead of his Melbourne Cup tilt.

“He is flying,” Azzopardi said of Inconspicuous.

“He is ready to rock and roll, I just hope he can draw somewhere near the inside.”

Inconspicuous’ mother Common Ground was a good sprinter for Nicholls, but he was forced to retire her to the breeding barn after just 31 starts (15 wins) because of a recurring toe injury.

While the Melbourne Cup is the primary focus for Hotel Whisky One, the team behind the dog have cast their mind forward to The Phoenix of 2024.

The Phoenix will take place on the evening of Saturday December 21 at The Meadows.

“Who knows, someone might select him for The Phoenix,” Azzopardi said of Hotel Whisky One.

“There has been a bit of talk going on but they are not committed to anything. At least there is a bit of interest there.”

Following his best of the night 21.77 second performance at Shepparton on Monday evening, Azzopardi is looking to Tasmania in the coming weeks with Augustus Finch.

He won over 390 metres on Monday and the trainer believes the Group 1 Hobart Thousand over 461 metres in December is an ideal option for brindle dog.

“He is a ripping dog, I have always liked this dog,” the long-time conditioner said.

“I have always had time for him and the Fireball was always on his radar, from day one since I got him.

“It was pretty amazing that he ended up pulling it off.

"He will run 500 metres and he has developed into a really nice dog, he could really go places I reckon.”