Wine Dark Sea targets Australian Cup double

Geoffrey Freer winner Wine Dark Sea is almost ready to embark on his globetrotting mission to Australia where he will try to join an elite list who have pulled off the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.

A winner of his first two outings this term, the progressive son of Ulysses saw his momentum checked at Newmarket’s July Festival but quickly regained the winning thread at Newbury to book his ticket to the southern hemisphere.

The four-year-old will now attempt to repeat the exploits of Half Yours who claimed top honours at Caulfield before following up at Flemington last year.

“He’s been in quarantine a week and he’s got one more week of that before flying next Saturday,” said Charlton. “He’s in good shape and his first race is the Caulfield Cup on October 17.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a prep as that is a huge race in it’s own right – he will get in the Melbourne Cup without running. But the owners are keen to have a pop at the Caulfield Cup and then go for the Melbourne Cup afterwards. I’ll head down later on and he’s in good hands until then.”

Charlton has reached out to the local knowledge of Damian Lane for steering duties, with the decorated international rider someone the Beckhampton operation have reached out to previously.

“I think Damian Lane is going to ride him and he’s got a great record down in Melbourne,” added Charlton. “As a youngster he rode Quest For More (2015) in the Melbourne Cup for Dad (Roger Charlton) so hopefully he proves a good choice.”