Tuesday 30 August 2016 10:02, UK
Connections of Clondaw Warrior are hoping the durable stayer can claw his way into booking a place in the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
The nine-year-old needs to go up a little more in the ratings to make the cut for the race that stops a nation and a prominent display on his next start - in either the Doncaster Cup or the Irish St Leger - should do the trick.
Willie Mullins' admirable dual-purpose performer showed he has a tremendous constitution by finishing second in the American St Leger at Arlington just 16 days after his win in the Galway Hurdle.
"He is a magic horse and has come back from America looking fantastic," said Mullins' son, Patrick.
"For horse that ran in Galway, then went to America to have a race, you wouldn't know it to look at him as he has kept his condition fantastically.
"He is entered in the Melbourne Cup. He will probably run in either the Doncaster Cup or Irish St Leger.
"If he could run well in either of those we would be very keen to send him to Melbourne.
"I think Melbourne will suit him. A fast ground and a fast pace is his cup of tea. If we can just get him up a few more pounds in his next run and if we can, he will be going Down Under.
"It took us a long time to get him right over hurdles. He got beat in his first few runs over hurdles for us.
"He was not straightforward but he is probably a lot sounder now than when he first came. He was not a fantastic mover when he came.
"He is moving better now and is a happy horse. He has his confidence back now.
"Ruby (Walsh) has always been of the opinion that he wants to be passing horses and be dropped in. That's what he did in Galway and in America."
