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David Payne has confirmed his dual group 1 winner Criterion is likely to contest the Hong Kong Cup in December after the Hong Kong Jockey Club lured owner Sir Owen Glenn to its international meeting. Criterion came through his Cox Plate run unscathed and holds an entry in the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
"Nothing is set in concrete but he's been vaccinated in preparation to go there," Payne said. "The owner is very keen to go."
Penzance still short of a start
Darren Weir faces an uphill battle to qualify Prince Of Penzance for the Melbourne Cup despite chief handicapper Greg Carpenter issuing a 2kg penalty to the Moonee Valley Cup winner. Prince Of Penzance remains stalled at No.30 on the order of entry and has not been entered for the Lexus Stakes on Saturday, the cup's version of the last chance saloon.
Weir has entered Signoff for the Lexus and booked Hong Kong-based Brazilian rider Joao Moreira in a bid to seal a cup spot.
Maid brought back from holiday
Bring Me The Maid has had what would be considered a holiday in the middle of the spring since her fourth in the Thousand Guineas. Peter Moody (right) gave the filly a couple of days off but she will be at Saturday's star-studded Coolmore Stud Stakes. "She's been to the farm and the beach, it's like a holiday," he said.
"We just needed to freshen her up for the Coolmore. She will back at Caulfield in the morning [on Tuesday] for a little blow-out to remind her she is a racehorse." Moody will have a couple of Melbourne Cup runners in Brambles and Lidari and said he hopes the big money stays in Australia.
Cohen mulls Melbourne decision
Rosehill trainer Lionel Cohen will decide whether Aeronautical will travel to Melbourne after a testing gallop on Tuesday. Aeronautical is entered for the group 2 down the straight 1200 metres, a course he was placed on in a Newmarket Handicap a couple of years ago, and the group 3 1400m. "I'm leaning towards the 1400m because I don't want to have to ride too hard early," Cohen said.
"I'm interested what might be in the field and, if Deep Field is in the straight race, I will definitely go to the 1400m." Aeronautical was well beaten in the Lightning Stakes at Randwick behind the unbeaten Deep Field last start.
