Willie Mullins Strikes Again at Royal Ascot as Belloccio Wins Copper Horse Handicap, Eyeing Melbourne Cup Bid

Trainer Willie Mullins could have yet another contender for the prestigious Melbourne Cup on his hands, as Belloccio followed in the footsteps of stablemate Vauban by winning the Copper Horse Handicap (2800m) on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Vauban had triumphed in the same race a year ago, using that success as a springboard for a tilt at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) the following November. While Belloccio’s victory may not have been as visually dominant, the gelding still managed to dig deep under jockey William Buick to hold off a late challenge from Lmay ($41) and secure a 1¼-length win, with My Mate Mozzie ($13) finishing third.

“This fellow will probably go to the Ebor,” Mullins said. “He’s entered here on Saturday, but we won’t make any decisions about this weekend yet. We’ll see how he comes out of this race, and I think the bigger picture may come into it. The long-term aim might be to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. We’ll see how things go and I’ll have another word with William.”

The triumph was a welcome relief for Mullins, who had earlier experienced disappointment on the opening card of the prestigious Royal meeting. The Irish maestro revealed that Belloccio could now be headed to the Ebor Handicap at York in late August, where a victory would earn the horse a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup.

The victory marked Mullins’ tenth winner at the Royal Ascot meeting, further cementing his status as one of the premier trainers in world racing. Belloccio’s gutsy performance has now put the horse firmly on the radar of Melbourne Cup enthusiasts, with the prospect of another Mullins-trained runner challenging for Australia’s most famous race later this year.

🔗 Source