THE running of yesterday's $100,000 Eclipse Stakes might have signalled the end of the spring carnival in Melbourne for most, but for the winner Eskimo Dan a trip to Western Australia is now the most likely option.
Eskimo Dan, which scored narrowly in a busy finish, is, according to the trainer's son, Richard Laming, more than likely to head west for the Perth Cup on New Year's Day.
"After he ran in the Cranbourne Cup, he jarred up when the track got so hard so we were forced to give him a break," Laming said.
"When he ran here last Saturday he was having his first start for five weeks so we knew he would keep improving.
"This year the Perth Cup is over 2400 metres, so from today's race it's an ideal stepping stone, considering the horse had missed the bulk of the spring carnival."
Laming, who was deputising for his father, Bevan, believes the main attraction of West Australia's top race is its reduction in distance from 3200m to 2400m.
Jockey Craig Williams, who remained in Melbourne instead of flying to Perth for the Railway Stakes, believes Eskimo Dan would be well placed in a Perth Cup.
"I just thought it was going to be me making up the minor placings when they swamped me late in the race but, to his credit, Eskimo Dan dug deep and fended off all of the challenges," Williams said.
"I think Instructor, for instance, probably got a length-and-a-half in front of me with 200m to go, but he just kept fighting and that's what appeals to me about him."
Williams also explained he'd been offered the rides on Majestical and The Fuzz in the Railway Stakes but had remained in Melbourne under doctor's orders, as he is overcoming an ear infection and had been told it would be unwise to fly to Perth.
Unfortunately for Laming and Williams, the jockey will not be able to ride Eskimo Dan in the Perth Cup.
"I've been selected to ride in the world champion jockeys' series in Japan and I think on New Year's Day the championship moves to the Ukraine, so there's no hope of me riding the horse," Williams said.
Eskimo Dan firmed from $4.40 into $4.20 favourite and scored by a short-head from Instructor, at $5, with Sentire ($6) three-quarters of length away in third.
Nicholas Hall, who rode Instructor, said he could not find an excuse for the stayer after his narrow defeat.
"I was out wide on the track and the horse had done a really good job, and the winner was very strong on the post," he said.
"I was so wide out I had no idea whether he'd won or not."
Sentire, which finished third, battled hard in the straight, just as he had done earlier last week when he finished a powerful second to Daka's Gem in the Ballarat Cup.
Bird Of Fire, which scored so convincingly at Flemington, fought on tenaciously to finish fourth but did not have the zest in the closing stages to pick up the winner.
Danny Brereton, who rode Bird Of Fire, said the mare had battled hard in the straight. He added that, while he had ridden Eskimo Dan at its previous start, he would not have been able to take the mount yesterday, as the winner was weighted at 54kg, which is out of his range.
Instructor and Soul Diva, as well as Bird Of Fire, might now be spelled and it is unlikely they will join Eskimo Dan in the west.