Onesmoothoperator's Melbourne Journey Sparks Plans for a Return

Trainer Brian Ellison shared that Onesmoothoperator is in great shape following his Melbourne Cup experience and is already considering a future trip back to Australia. The six-year-old gelding, who claimed last year’s November Handicap on the all-weather at Newcastle after heavy rains forced a switch from Doncaster, also won the Northumberland Plate there in June, guided by jockey Connor Beasley.

In Australia, Onesmoothoperator continued to impress with a victory on turf in the Geelong Cup, ridden by local jockey Craig Williams. However, in the Melbourne Cup, he faced some challenges, finishing 12th out of 23 after encountering trouble during the race.

Ellison expressed satisfaction with the gelding’s performance, noting that while Onesmoothoperator emerged with a few cuts from race trouble, his overall condition was excellent. Reflecting on his season, Ellison praised the gelding’s steady improvement, mentioning standout wins in the November Handicap, Northumberland Plate, and Geelong Cup. He felt Onesmoothoperator was well-prepared for the Melbourne Cup but acknowledged that his run was hindered by some bad luck and a few setbacks in the field.

Onesmoothoperator will return to Britain next week and enjoy a brief rest before heading to Dubai for a winter campaign. Ellison plans to assess his performance there before deciding on another Melbourne Cup attempt. He noted that the gelding might aim for next year’s Northumberland Plate, though he isn’t sure if Onesmoothoperator’s rating will allow it. Last year, he ran off a mark of 93, but the Australians rated him around 105 this season.

Ellison stated that the gelding thrived on Australian turf, showing that he’s adaptable to different conditions. Whether or not he makes another Melbourne Cup bid, Onesmoothoperator has proven his stamina and consistency across a variety of racing challenges.