Melbourne Cup next stop for Wine Dark Sea after Freer success
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 15 Aug 2026
Wine Dark Sea made every yard of the running to land a gamble in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury and set up a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Connections have recently sold a share in the four-year-old gelding to Australian Bloodstock and victory under Hector Crouch was enough to earn a place in the Flemington race.
Making all under Crouch, Wine Dark Sea, who was well backed from 13-2 into 7-2, never looked like being pegged back and stayed on well in the straight to pull clear of the staying-on Tabletalk to win by a length and a half.
William Haggas’ 2-1 favourite Dubai Honour was a neck further back in third.
Winning trainer Harry Charlton confirmed the Melbourne spectacular was the next stop for the improving four-year-old with the horse set to go into quarantine on September 9.
“The intention today was to finish third which would help with the ballot qualification for the Melbourne Cup and he has done more than that,” said Charlton.
“The Aussies who I’m dealing with were saying finish third and they won’t change his handicap mark. It is very different how they do it.”
Wine Dark Sea ran out an impressive winner of handicaps at Ascot and Carlisle earlier in the season but could manage only fifth when well supported at Newmarket’s July meeting.
Charlton was inclined to put that disappointment down to the rigours of a stiff finish and long journey to the Cumbrian track.
“Although he won on the bridle at Carlisle he broke the track record carrying top weight so you can’t have an easy race, particularly travelling eight hours in a heatwave. The 10 days later we just saw a slightly flat horse.
“My brother (Tom) trains in Australia and has a Melbourne Cup runner as well. I have a team going down with the horse and you train out of the quarantine barn at Ballarat.”
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