Onesmoothoperator © Photo Healy Racing
Brian Ellison has reported Onesmoothoperator to be in good condition after his Melbourne Cup adventure – and is already contemplating a return trip to Australia.
The six-year-old gelding won last year’s November Handicap after it was switched to the all-weather at Newcastle following consistent rain at Doncaster and followed that up as Connor Beasley timed his run to perfection to win the Northumberland Plate there in June.
And after flying out to Australia, he showed his versatility with victory on turf in the valuable Geelong Cup in the hands of local jockey Craig Williams.
Williams was again in the saddle for the Melbourne Cup, when Onesmoothoperator met trouble in running before coming home 12th of 23, beaten five and three-quarter lengths.
Ellison said: “He’s grand. He’s good. He’s got a few cuts behind where he got into a bit of trouble in the race, but apart from that everything is fine.
“He’s had a great season; the November Handicap, the (Northumberland) Plate and the Geelong Cup – that was an amazing day.
“This year, he’s improved and kept on improving. I thought he was good for the (Melbourne) Cup but he didn’t get the best of runs, he was hampered a couple of times and got a bit too far back – but there will be one or two more in the race who will say the same thing.”
Onesmoothoperator will return to Britain next week and have a short break prior to heading out to Dubai for a winter campaign, before a decision is made on whether to launch another attempt on the Melbourne Cup.
Ellison added: “He’ll be back next Friday, go to Dubai in January and have a couple of runs out there and we’ll basically take it by ear and see what happens and he may go back out (for the Melbourne Cup) again next year.
“He probably will target the Plate next year but whether he’s too high or not, I don’t know. What did he run off last year – 93? The Australians rated him about 105, so we’ll see.
“The Plate would be a good step-up run though if he did go back out to Australia. It’s great that he’s won on grass. He did thrive when he was out there. He did really well. He’s never left anything, he’s really well.”
