Spring plans revealed for Lord Belvedere

Imported stayer Lord Belvedere posted his second Australian win at Flemington.

Imported stayer Lord Belvedere will be given the opportunity to progress to bigger spring staying races after scoring a stylish mid-winter victory at Flemington.

Having his third Australian start, Lord Belvedere recorded his second win since arriving from England with victory in Saturday’s Harry White Handicap.

Sent off the $3.10 favourite under Ben Melham, Lord Belvedere scored a two length win from stablemate The Statesman ($13) with San Remo ($21) a length away third.

Ciaron Maher, who trains the stayer in partnership with David Eustace, said Lord Belvedere would remain in training and prepared for a spring campaign.

“He came over with a nice rating and he can work his way through the grades,” Maher said.

“That’s only his third run in so he doesn’t need a break now, but he doesn’t need to race every two weeks either.

“He can go month to month to month.”

Lord Belvedere is part-owned by UK-based syndicator Highclere Thoroughbred Racing who have harboured Melbourne Cup aspirations since Distinction contested the race in 2004.

Maher said he would try to plot a course to gaining a start in the Cup for Lord Belvedere.

He said The Cummings, which offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Cup, was a likely target.

“It’s a long way from here to when you start thinking of spring and the Melbourne Cup,” Maher said.

“But he’s a very natural stayer so we can plot a course and try and sneak him in on the minimum.”