Rite of Passage Heading for the 2010 Melbourne Cup

The Dermot Weld trained Rite of Passage won the Ascot Gold Cup over 4000 metres at Royal Ascot in the UK on Thursday afternoon 17 June in course record time at the price of 20 to 1. Immediately afterwards Weld was making plans to take the six-year-old to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup.

Weld is the only European trainer to win the Melbourne Cup – with Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002. Currently a movie called “The Cup” is being filmed around Melbourne about Media Puzzle. The Ascot Gold Cup was a case of third time lucky for Weld as he has two runners before who both ran second. They were Vintage Crop in 1994 and Vinnie Roe in 2005. Vinnie Roe contested the Melbourne Cup in 2004 when he came second to Makybe Diva.

Rite Of Passage will have the same Melbourne Cup preparation as Vintage Crop and Vinnie Roe which means he will run in the Irish St Leger in September. The horse is owned by Dr Richard Lambe who is a regular visitor to Melbourne as his daughter is attending university there and he is very keen to have a Melbourne Cup runner.

Weld is also hoping to bring Profound Beauty back to Melbourne. The mare ran a good fifth to Viewed in 2008 and had planned to return for the 2009 Cup but didn’t. Third in the Ascot Gold Cup was Purple Moon who placed behind Efficient in the 2007 Melbourne Cup. Trainer Luca Cumani is also considering a Melbourne trip for the horse again.

English bookmaker Paddy Power has already quoted a price of 10 to 1 for Rite of Passage to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup. As a true stayer he will certainly add interest to the race!

Jo Jackson

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