Defibrillate on Melbourne Cup Path

Part owner Graham Richardson is convinced Defibrillate (Shocking-Our Chickaroonie, by Groom Dancer) is on track for the Melbourne Cup after Saturday's second placing over 1700m at Flemington, according to racingnews.co.nz. "That was a super run, on Saturday, as he raced a lot handier than normal from a good gate and didn't get a lot of luck in the home straight," Richardson said of the Patrick Payne-trained horse. "He just got held up when he needed to be making a run, but when he got clear air in the last 100m, he really charged to the line. He was carrying 6.5kgs more than the winner, so to my eye it was the run of the race. We have said all along we would love to see him run in the Melbourne Cup and hopefully that race showed he is starting to round into form at just the right time." Defibrillate has won nine of his 17 starts and has earnings over $500,000. He won the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude over 2000m back in February this year.