TWO Hunter businessmen have taken a punt on a British stayer to achieve their ambition to win this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell have put together a syndicate, including members from Newcastle, under the banner of Australian Bloodstock to buy seven-year-old entire Illustrious Blue.
After long and detailed negotiations, the pair clinched the deal this week to buy the horse, which won the group 2 Goodwood Cup in Britain over the Melbourne Cup journey of 3200 metres two starts ago.
“We are living the dream of every person who loves racing here in Australia,” Lovett said.
“We have an agent in England and we instructed him to try and find us a horse that could be competitive in a Melbourne Cup.
“After due diligence, Illustrious Blue was one of three that it got down to as the main possibility.
“I will say we had to pay overs but we believe we have come up with some chance of winning this year’s Melbourne Cup.
“He is qualified and is 14th on the order of entry and is rated a $20 chance with bookies.
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