No Melbourne Cup for Tashkhan as Brian Ellison targets the Prix du Cadran

Tashkhan will not attempt to improve Brian Ellison's frustrating record in the Lexus Melbourne Cup in November after the trainer decided the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp is a more suitable autumn target, despite his stable star passing a series of pre-quarantine scans for the Australian showpiece.

The British Champions Long Distance Cup runner-up is one of five horses no longer under consideration for the Spring Carnival, although Racing Victoria officials stressed that no assumption could be made about whether individual horses had or had not passed initial pre-flight veterinary checks.

Joseph O'Brien announced this week that State Of Rest had been retired to stud after issues emerged from an MRI scan, and stablemate Cleveland is also among the five withdrawals, along with Ebor hero Trawlerman and the Andreas Wohler-trained Northern Ruler.

Ellison revealed that Tashkhan had passed the initial scan phase without any problems, but that the experience of campaigning him on ground faster than ideal through the course of the summer in Europe – his most recent outing was a distant fourth to Quickthorn in the Lonsdale Cup – has persuaded him that Flemington would not bring the best out of the four-year-old.

Brian Ellison: trainer of TashkhanCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "We had half of him sold to Australian connections and they sent somebody out to vet him. They took 50-odd x-rays and he passed.

"We probably shouldn't have run him at York and he's fine, but we've just decided not to run him on fast ground again. He's had four runs this year on fast ground and to be fair to the horse he's a lot better on soft.

"We went back to the Australian investors and said we won't go to Melbourne but we'll have a look at Sydney in the spring, which is often wet. If that was on the cards they might come back and buy a share but his owner, Patrick Boyle, is not bothered if he sells a share in him or not. The horse pays for himself."

Ellison is no stranger to the Melbourne Cup challenge, although his luck has been decidedly out, dating back to his first entry, Carte Diamond, being ruled out after surviving a training accident which saw him drop his jockey and crash through a rail.

Melbourne's loss could be Europe's gain as Ellison will be hoping for the northern hemisphere autumn to provide more suitable conditions.

"The Prix du Cadran is the target now," said Ellison. "We ran at Longchamp last year over two miles in heavy ground and he ran well. He stays all day and he was only beaten four lengths in the Ascot Gold Cup, but on that good ground – even though he's rated 115 – they just get away from him. He's a 10lb better horse on soft."

Ellison schooled Tashkhan over hurdles when he first arrived from Emmet Mullins but is unlikely to go down that route, but the Boyle-owned Onesmoothoperator will do so in December after he has tackled the November Handicap.

Chester Cup winner Cleveland is among five horses not in consideration for the Spring CarnivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Racing Victoria also released details of initial quarantine and travel plans for horses heading to Melbourne, either for their existing trainers or because they have been bought to continue their careers in Australia.

1st shipment: pre-export quarantine begins September 5

• El Bodegon (Chris Waller) – entered for the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup, Ladbrokes Cox Plate, Lexus Melbourne Cup
• My Oberon (Annabel Neasham) – Ladbrokes Cox Plate
• Night Endeavor (Ciaron Maher and David Eustace) – Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup, Ladbrokes Cox Plate, Lexus Melbourne Cup
• Rodrigo Diaz (David Simcock) – Lexus Melbourne Cup

2nd shipment: pre-export quarantine begins September 26

• Camorra (Ben and JD Hayes) – Lexus Melbourne Cup
• Loft (Marcel Weiss) – Lexus Melbourne Cup
• Without A Fight (Simon and Ed Crisford) – Lexus Melbourne Cup

Racing Victoria also confirmed that other international challengers expected to feature among the next confirmations on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup have yet to have their scan results submitted, although the deadline is three weeks away.

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