New Zealand-trained Melbourne Cup hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Australia on Wednesday to commence his path towards the $10 million race.
The Group Three winner was set to start his spring campaign at Wanganui 10 days ago, but bad weather curtailed those plans and trainers Peter and Shaun McKay have elected to head over to Melbourne with their charge.
“He is booked to get on a flight tomorrow (Wednesday) to go to Melbourne and will start on Saturday at Flemington in a 1700m race. There is just nothing here for him,” Peter McKay said.
“I would have liked to have had a couple of runs here first before he stepped over there. Roger James has had to do the same (with Mark Twain).”
Fellow Melbourne Cup hopeful Mark Twain is nominated for the same 1700m race at Flemington this weekend after things went awry at Moonee Valley last Saturday when he was scratched on veterinary advice after dislodging rider Jamie Mott on his way to the barriers.
Wolfgang’s first main target of the spring will be the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 4, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the Melbourne Cup.