But in the days following the six-year-old’s high profile success, the biggest of Ellison’s career, the trainer has admitted to having something of a rethink.
Owner Dan Gilbert is said to be keen to give Flemington a try and the Ebor winner qualifies automatically for Australia’s showpiece race although is not guaranteed a place in the field.
Even so, Ellison has indicated he would run Moyenne Corniche in one of the card’s supporting contests should he travel down under and not make the Cup cut.
The handler has never made any secret of his love for Australia, even though his previous trips there have not had happy endings.
In 2005, Carte Diamond impaled a leg on a metal spike while training for the Cup and, having recovered, was ruled out of the contest 12 months later by a tendon injury.
In 2007, Bay Story fatally broke a leg in a race on Melbourne Cup day.
These set-backs have not dampened Ellison’s desire to succeed overseas and Moyenne Corniche could well be in the frame by the time entries close on September 1 – with a trip depending on injections and flights.
He said: “You can’t blame the owners for trying to find a way.
“The Ebor was a race where you could train any of the 20 horses in the field and there were some good horses in there.
“You go through the race programme and, when you’ve won £140,000, why would you want to then go and look for a race that’s worth £20,000?
“If he goes to the Melbourne Cup, even if he doesn’t get in, he would run in a race that’s worth £275,000.
“That’s the Lexus and, if he won that, he gets a free run in the Melbourne Cup anyway.
“He’s passed the ballot and Dan (Gilbert) said he would definitely go if he gets in the Lexus.
“He could also run on Melbourne Cup day in something like the Bart Cummings. We would go for three weeks. I can definitely see me winning a Melbourne Cup.”
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