{"id":72858,"date":"2026-08-16T01:51:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T01:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/72858\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T01:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T01:51:10","slug":"wine-dark-sea-locks-in-melbourne-cup-spot-with-uk-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/72858\/","title":{"rendered":"Wine Dark Sea locks in Melbourne Cup spot with UK win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australian-owned international Wine Dark Sea has streamlined Melbourne Cup qualification with a Group 3 victory in the UK.<\/p>\n

Wine Dark Sea<\/a>, trained by Harry Charlton<\/a>, landed a plunge to win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2671m) at Newbury<\/a> and in doing so, satisfied Cups\u2019 ballot clause conditions.<\/p>\n

Australian Bloodstock-owned Wine Dark Sea defeated Tabletalk and favourite Dubai Honour to further enhance Melbourne Spring Carnival potential.<\/p>\n

UK globetrotter Dubai Honour has starred in Sydney previously with three Group 1<\/a> triumphs including the Tancred Stakes<\/a> (2400m) last year, the 2023 Ranvet Stakes<\/a> (2000m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes<\/a> (2000m) double.<\/p>\n

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Wine Dark Sea is scheduled to enter quarantine September 9 and arrive in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final weekend.<\/p>\n

Qualification is timely for Australian Bloodstock with prized star Al Riffa<\/a>, a brave seventh in the Cup as topweight last year, ruled out of a return trip to Melbourne with injury<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

Australian Bloodstock bought into Wine Dark Sea as a Melbourne Cup<\/a> prospect after two UK handicap wins.<\/p>\n

The lightly-raced four-year-old Ulysses gelding, with a rich staying pedigree, made a strong statement last Saturday the first time in stakes\u2019 grade.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cosmic Crusader defies Peters superstition with PB Lawrence win<\/a><\/p>\n

Charlton is the brother of Sydney-based UK expat Tom<\/a>, who trains in partnership with John O\u2019Shea. The sons of UK trainer Roger Charlton could face off at Flemington<\/a> on November 3.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Cox Plate<\/a> and potential Champions Stakes<\/a> hopeful Map Of Stars<\/a> placed second to Wimbledon Hawkeye<\/a> in a Group 3 in France last weekend, with a big gap back to third.<\/p>\n

Map Of Stars defeated Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Caulfield Cup<\/a>-qualifier Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot the start prior.<\/p>\n

Melbourne Cup-qualified American stayer Tawny Port<\/a>, who won the automatic entry Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3200m) in June, was unplaced at Saratoga last Sunday back in trip to a 2400m Grade 1.<\/p>\n

Originally published as Australian-owned Wine Dark Sea books 2026 Melbourne Cup ticket with dominant win in UK Group 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australian-owned international Wine Dark Sea has streamlined Melbourne Cup qualification with a Group 3 victory in the 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