![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Australian-Bloodstock-unearth-serious-Melbourne-Cup-contender-734x460.png\" "\\"Australian")
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Australian Bloodstock could have another serious Melbourne Cup 2026<\/a> contender on its hands after progressive stayer Wine Dark Sea staked his claim with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1m 5\u00bdf) at Newbury.<\/p>\n The four-year-old Ulysses gelding, trained by Harry Charlton, was purchased by Australian Bloodstock as a potential Cups contender after winning a handicap at Carlisle by 13 lengths in June.<\/p>\n Gamble landed!<\/p>\n Well-backed before the off, Wine Dark Sea bounces back to form in style in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes\u2026@HectorCrouch<\/a> @HarryJCharlton<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/G72sIZVnnP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wine Dark Sea finished fifth at Newmarket at his following start but bounced back to his best at Newbury under a clever ride from Hector Crouch.<\/p>\n Crouch took Wine Dark Sea to the front and controlled the tempo before kicking clear to defeat Table Talk by a length and a half, with favourite and multiple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour finishing third.<\/p>\n Wine Dark Sea has now won four of his 10 starts and will enter quarantine before travelling to Australia to target the lucrative spring staying races.<\/p>\n Charlton is looking forward to bringing the emerging stayer to Australia, where his brother Tom is based.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a story!\u201d said Harry Charlton.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople will latch on to the fact my brother Tom in Oz also has a Cup horse this year in King Pedro. When we sent Quest For More and Withhold to Melbourne, it was Tom who took them down but he then stayed in Australia and never came home. I\u2019ve never been to Australia, so I had better go down there to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n Australian Bloodstock\u2019s Jamie Lovett is hopeful Wine Dark Sea can follow in the footsteps of the syndicator\u2019s previous Melbourne Cup winners<\/a> Protectionist and Gold Trip.<\/p>\n \u201cWith a nice light weight over the two miles of the Melbourne Cup, I think he\u2019ll run us a race,\u201d said Lovett.<\/p>\n \u201cThe key to our race is that you have to find a horse who is effective at a mile and a half, which Wine Dark Sea is.<\/p>\n \u201cThe dour staying types don\u2019t work in a Melbourne Cup<\/a>. You also have to beat the handicapper, which we failed to do with Al Riffa last year. You need to get in with a winning weight, which he\u2019ll do. He\u2019s also a young horse on the up who probably doesn\u2019t yet have a ceiling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T\u2019s & C\u2019s apply. Gamble responsibly.<\/p>\n \n What’s gambling really costing you? <\/p>\n \n Set a deposit limit. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t The Melbourne Cup always approaches fast, with the 2026 edition commencing at 3pm, Tuesday 4th November. The race that stops…<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n Melbourne Cup<\/a><\/p>\n