The father-son training combination of Simon and Ed Crisford has set their sights on Australian racing's ultimate prize, declaring their emerging stayer Meydaan a genuine Melbourne Cup prospect following his dominant performance overseas.
Meydaan stamped his credentials as a potential international contender for the Flemington feature with an impressive victory in the bet365 Handicap at Newmarket's July Course, demonstrating the staying power that could see him compete with Australia's best over the iconic 3200-metre distance.
From British Tracks to Australian Dreams
The Crisfords, who have established themselves as leading international trainers, expressed genuine excitement about Meydaan's potential to make the journey down under. "We've always felt he had the makings of a proper stayer," Ed Crisford revealed. "His recent performance confirmed our belief that he could be competitive in a race like the Melbourne Cup."
The four-year-old gelding has shown significant improvement with increased distance, suggesting the testing two-mile journey of Australia's most famous race could play perfectly to his strengths.
Building Towards Spring Carnival Glory
While plans are still being finalised, the training team indicated they would follow a carefully structured preparation designed to have Meydaan peak during Melbourne's spring racing carnival. The traditional path for international contenders often includes targeted lead-up races to acclimatise to Australian conditions.
"The Melbourne Cup is the ultimate goal for any stayer," Simon Crisford noted. "We believe Meydaan has the right temperament and racing style to handle the unique challenges of racing at Flemington."
International Invasion Continues
If Meydaan makes the journey, he'll join a proud tradition of international raiders who have conquered Australia's greatest race. The Crisford stable has been building its international profile and sees the Melbourne Cup as the perfect stage to showcase their training prowess on the world stage.
Racing fans will be watching closely as Meydaan's preparation unfolds, with the possibility of another intriguing international contender adding excitement to the build-up towards the race that stops a nation.
