Ellison’s Ebor hero in glory bid Down Under

It may be one of the world’s most famous handicaps, the race that traditionally stops Australia on the first Tuesday of November, but it also claimed the career of one of his best horses.

Carte Diamond was one of the favourites for the 2005 renewal after finishing second in the Ebor handicap and was in flying form a week before the two-mile handicap before parting company with his jockey and a metal running rail becoming impaled through his thigh as he leapt the fence. Though he resumed his career 896 days later, he never returned to winning ways.

Two years later, Bay Story, had to be put down after shattering the near hind leg about 200 metres from the finish of his Melbourne Cup prep race.

However, this has not put Ellison off from sending Moyenne Corniche, the first Yorkshire-trained winner of the Ebor for 13 years, and stablemate Saptapadi Down Under for this year’s renewal.

“That’s racing. If you have an accident, it doesn’t stop you driving a car,” said the in-form Norton handler.

“It would be fantastic to win the Melbourne Cup – I don’t know a trainer in the world who does not want to land the race.

“I’m not into going down there to get one over the Aussies because of the rugby or whatever, I’m just doing what is right for my horses and the Cup, and the Northumberland Plate, are the two races that I most want to win.”

This determination – Ellison was born in Newcastle on the morning of the 1952 Pitmen’s Derby (won by Souepi) – illustrates why he has embarked on an expensive and logistically challenging operation to fly his stable stars across the world.

In quarantine in Newmarket for the past fortnight, they will join around eight other horses on a specially chartered equine plane that leaves Britain on Sunday. The passage is not cheap – a return fare costs around £40,000 for each horse.

Then there is the cost of sending travelling head lad Andrew Robinson and assistant Harriet Bethell to Australia to ride out and care for their horses – expenses and accommodation for each will total around £6,500.

Because Ellison believes his animals will prosper if they have own feed, it has just cost £3,000 to ship 30 bags of horse nuts to the stables that will be used once Moyenne Corniche and Saptapadi emerge from quarantine.

To put this expense in further perspective, it should also be remembered that neither horse is guaranteed a run in the Melbourne Cup. They will need to perform well in a prep race to gain a penalty that will move them up the likes of the handicap so they can take on Jukebox Jury, the Mark Johnston-trained colt from Middleham who is guaranteed a run based on his Irish St Leger heroics 10 days ago.

“That’s what you have to do if you want to win these big races. You’re taking a chance – but how many times do you get a chance to win the Melbourne Cup?” asked Ellison, who will travel to Australia next month with his wife Claire to supervise the final preparations for his stable stars.

“I’m fortunate that I have owners who are prepared to have a go. With Moyenne, he has just won £140,000 after winning the Ebor so he has already paid for himself while Saptapadi has had a great year – fifth in the Ebor and also the John Smith’s Cup.

“The biggest challenge will be hoping that both horses maintain their form as neither has run since the Ebor. I went to Newmarket on Saturday and both looked in brilliant condition – that’s a good sign, but that’s before they board the plane.

“The good thing is that the two horses are the best of friends, they do everything together and I think that is a bonus. In some respects, I think Saptapadi has helped Moyenne Corniche because he is such a good work horse. Moyenne has had to dig deeper on the gallops and has improved. If they get into the Cup, it’ll take a good horse to beat them.”

There is no question, at this stage, of Ellison flying out a British jockey – like Rotherham-born Dale Swift who guided Moyenne Corniche to Ebor glory.

The plan, says Ellison, is to use local jockeys as he bids to keep the Melbourne Cup in Europe after Americain’s dramatic victory 12 months ago for French handler Alain de Royer Dupre.

“I just need a bit of luck, That’s all,” he added.