The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Future History has won the ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup with his all-the-way win in The Bart Cummings at Flemington.
Success in Saturday’s Group 3 contest over 2520m provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7.
Future History joins Goldman and Lunar Flare as horses to have gained a start in the Melbourne Cup through ballot free contests.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Future History ($9) held-off a determined $3.80 Boombet favourite First Immortal to score by three-quarters-of-a-length with Serpentine ($13) a further 1-¼ lengths away third.
Williams partnered Future History in a gallop at Sandown last Sunday that gave the jockey the confidence that he would be aboard a fit horse on Saturday.
“The horse galloped really well, and I got an understanding of his mannerisms,” Williams said.
“He is such a lovely, relaxed horse to lead up and gallop. When I forced him to run down the hill at Sandown, I had to make him do it and if Ashrun was able to get to him he would be able to hold it.
“He did that at Moonee Valley two starts ago and it was plain to see here.
“First Immortal, really progressive, challenged him and he kept laying down the gauntlet.
“He’s a deserved winner of the ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup and he was dominant today.”
Eustace said Future History was likely to go straight into the Melbourne Cup 2023 without another start.
After starting his career in France, Future History had his first Australian start at Sandown in June and was a winner at Moonee Valley in late August.
Mark and Levi Kavanagh, who prepare the runner-up First Immortal, were ruing a poor draw with their stayer who was also racing for the ‘Golden ‘Ticket’.
First Immortal was trapped wide early and was never closer than three-wide for the journey.
“We opted to run this week instead of next week (Herbert Power Stakes) because we wanted to have a go at The Cup,” Levi Kavanagh said.
“The wide alley cost us today. It was a great run and if we had drawn a gate, maybe the result would have been different.
“We’ve still got a horse and he’s going to figure in a good race, somewhere, in the next few weeks.”