Tuesday, 26 September 2006: Geordieland is the latest overseas runner to come in for significant Melbourne Cup support, being backed to win just shy of $1million with Sportingbet Australia overnight.
The French-bred son of Johann Quatz was backed by an overseas client with a wager of $750,000 to $25,000 Each Way (at $31) to win the Cup on November 7.
The punter is not believed to be connected with the horse.
Geordieland has been allotted 54kg in the Melbourne Cup and had his most recent outing when 4th, beaten two lengths, to Mudawin, Glistening and Young Mick in the Ebor Handicap (2800m) at York on August 23.
At his previous start, Geordieland was beaten five lengths when second to Yeats in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m).
In both events he recorded a rating of 116.
Yeats of course was the subject of a nationwide plunge earlier this month before his shock defeat in the Irish St Leger.
Geordieland's most recent victory came in June last year, when he won a Group 2 event over 2400m at Chantilly.
Overall, he is the winner of five races from 21 starts and another nine minor placings.
Trainer Jamie Osborne has said the horse was specifically purchased as a Melbourne Cup prospect and may take in the Caulfield Cup on the way through.
Racing Post reported Osborne as saying “we took the view that he was the best horse in Europe available at a working man's price.”
2007 was the first time two female jockeys have contested the race (Lisa Cropp on Sculptor and Claire Lindop on Dolphin Jo) - both on consecutive TAB numbers.
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