The Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday will be Mirann’s final race before entering quarantine for a tilt at the Melbourne Spring.
The Ebor has long been regarded by the VRC as a key lead up race although no Ebor winner is yet to win the Melbourne Cup. In 2007, Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon came close, running second in the Cup after winning the Ebor, while the following year All The Good won the Caulfield Cup after winning at York.
For Mirann, the Ebor is an important race, not only because of the prestige and stakes money that goes with the race but for him to pass the first qualifying clause for the Melbourne Cup. While the Ebor no longer provides automatic entry into the Cup, a placing provides that qualification, despite the Ebor not being a Group race.
On Saturday, Jamie Spencer will take the ride. Jamie has won the race twice in the past 20 years and will give Mirann every chance. The 5yo is best when held up for a final run and ideally the sting taken out of the track will assist.
Johnny Murtagh has been delighted with the horse over the past 4 months. His strong finishing 4th on a heavy track in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot was an excellent effort and Johnny believes he is going just as well leading into Saturday’s race.
After Saturday, Mirann will be subjected to the new stringent Racing Victoria tests to enable him to be permitted to join the Melbourne quarantine flight. Once cleared he’ll go to Newmarket before travelling to Melbourne to start in either the Caulfield Cup or Geelong Cup.
