Kalapour Gains Golden Ticket into Gr.1 Melbourne Cup

A superb front-running display enabled by Damien Oliver in today’s Gr.3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) has seen our game Kris Lees-trained galloper Kalapour (IRE) (War Command) gain a golden ticket into Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup.

This combination of Oliver and Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park silks has previously been seen to best advantage by Lucia Valentina in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and with Tivaci (1400m) in the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes.

Both trained by Lees, Kalapour will be looking to improve on Lucia Valentina’s 2014 Melbourne Cup outing for Petagna, with the three-time Gr.1 winning racemare finishing midfield on this occasion.

Purchased by Lees and Justin Bahen after a win from four career starts in the UK, Kalapour has shown his Australian adeptness with four wins and six placings from 15 starts, with additional black-type also counted in May’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Hcp (2000m).

Kalapour was bred by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs and is co-owned by Elsdon Park with  Gurners Bloodstock Co (Syndicate), Joe Singh, William Guest, Michael Clemenger, Tim Watson, David Redgrove, Susan Redgrove, Todd Johns, Ian Clifton, Peter Filipovic, Janne Guest, Jill Cross, Narelle Malone, Sue Grayson, MJM Racing (Syndicate Manager Ralph Huddy), Tah Boys (Syndicate Manager Anthony).

According to Racing Victoria, the Head of Handicapping David Hegan has elected not to issue a Melbourne Cup penalty to Kalapour, who will remain on 50 kg’s and will be ridden by Zac Lloyd.