Cup chase begins for Highlander

Racehorse owner and Southern Highlands resident Phillip Pollicina has teamed up with Goulburn trainer Danny Williams to prepare Secateur, which has recently arrived from England where the gelding was purchased for its Melbourne Cup campaign.

Earlier this year, Williams and Pollicina travelled to to look at racing establishments in Europe and to look for prospective horses to campaign in Australia.

The three year old Secateur was purchased at the Tattersalls Newmarket Sale for 68,250 English pounds, it's sire is Danehill Dancer and Dam Rose Cut and was offered for sale by Clarehaven Stables.

In England Secateur was trained by John Gosden and had two wins and four seconds from its 10 runs since September 2014.

Pollicina said that longer distance races of a mile or more were much more prevalent than in Australia and there was more emphasis on breeding horses to perform over distance than as sprinters.

"We were looking for a horse that had suitable breeding to run the Melbourne Cup and Secateur fitted what we were looking for," Pollicina said."He is a big horse similar to Fiorente which won the 2013 Melbourne Cup. Pollicina is major shareholder of the owners syndicate that shared in that win.

Williams described Secateur as an uncomplicated horse with a sound physique and great attitude.

"He has a very good pedigree perfectly muscled big and strong and perfectly relaxed, Williams said.

"He is so easy to handle and has settled in quite well.

The Goulburn based horse stands 16.15 hands and though it has lost condition due to being cramped up in travelling stalls and boxes since October Pollicina and Williams expect in about three months the stayer will be ready for its first Australian trials.

"We are looking to make Secateur a horse that the people of Goulburn can follow throughout his campaign," Williams said.

"We are hoping that Secateur will put Goulburn on the racing map and that people will follow his progress. There is no reason why we can't have a Melbourne Cup winner in Goulburn and we are certainly going to give it a shot,"Pollicina said.

"Goulburn Racecourse is missing some of the facilities that other tracks have, like a pool for the horses - but it has a lot of potential and just needs some progressive investment to give it the lift it needs.

"Danny is training four of my horses and I have confidence in his ability.

"In a few weeks we will have a training program worked out but in the meantime we have to get to know Secateur and he has to get used to his surroundings and the change from the northern to southern hemisphere.

" We need to find out what he likes."

Danny Williams and Phillip Pollicina will be providing updates on Secateur's progress so that all of Goulburn can take an interest in our Melbourne Cup prospect's training and preparation with the aim of putting the City, Race Club, owner and trainer in the spotlight.

Williams will be looking to the autumn carnivals and distances of around a mile or so for Secateur's first race outing.