All systems go for Distinction team

Distinction looks to have run his last race in Britain for this year as connections ready him for a tilt at the Emirates Melbourne Cup on November 2.

The Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old is due to go into quarantine for Australia next month, and prepare for the big race at Flemington with a run in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup a fortnight beforehand.

Distinction won the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Silver Cup Rated Stakes at York last month and some of the members of his owning syndicate, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, have booked their tickets Down Under already.

Harry Herbert, Highclere’s racing manager, said: “He’s in good form and will go into quarantine in September, so he is probably unlikely to race again in this country.

“We are all systems go for Australia, and he will take in the mile-and-a-half Caulfield Cup beforehand as he won’t have had a run to sharpen him up, and there’s a lot of prize money which could help to pay for the trip.

“We are awaiting the weights, and we have a terrific team of owners who are getting excited about going there.”