Tawny Port remains in Melbourne Cup calculations after Gold Cup win
The American seven-year-old has strengthened his Flemington claims with a second graded-stakes victory of the season, although trainer Miguel Clement has other campaign options to weigh.
Tawny Port could head to Flemington for the 2026 Melbourne Cup after winning Wednesday’s Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
The Miguel Clement-trained seven-year-old defeated Lambeth by three-quarters of a length in the 3300m turf contest, recording his second graded-stakes victory of the season.
Tawny Port is among the United States-trained entries for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres on November 3. He secured a ballot-exempt place through his two-mile G2 Belmont Gold Cup victory at Saratoga in June.
Clement said he needed to discuss an Australian campaign with Peachtree Stable owner John Fort and assess how Tawny Port recovered from his Kentucky Downs effort.
“Regardless, I think the horse is very talented and let’s see how he comes out of it, but we are heavily considering the race,” Clement said after the race.
“My owner is keen to run him in the Canadian International and then bring him back for some of the big races in New York, but winning this race perhaps gives me a little more leeway,” Clement said.
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