Heartbreak for Melbourne Cup

Trainer Tony Martin will be hoping that his trip to Australia this week will pay dividends next week where his Ebor winner Heartbreak City will be bidding for glory in the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday.

Martin had the first and third in the Ebor Handicap at York last August with Heartbreak City, which is owned by a syndicate of New York-based Irish reacing enthusiasts, winning and the John Breslin-owned Quick Jack in third place.

Martin was winning that historic contest for the first time and that result put the Melbourne Cup, the race that 'stops Australia', on the radar.

The owners of Heartbreak City include Niall O'Reilly from Stamullen, Aidan Shiels from Delvin and Charlie Gavigan from Castletown-Geoghegan in Westmeath.

The trio are involved in construction in New York and also in a pub, the Irish Rover, in Queens.

Heartbrealk City was previously owned by George Swan, an Englishman who passed away last year.

The horse was then sent to the sales and when the syndicate was formed the six-year-old was purchased and remained with his current trainer.

Other Irish runners in the Melbourne Cup include Wicklow Brave for Willie Mullins and the aptly-named Bondi Beach trained by Aidan O'Brien.

The last Irish winner was Media Puzzle for Dermot Weld in 2002 and he also won the 1993 race with Vintage Crop.

The race will take place at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday next at 3pm local time (5am Tuesday morning Irish time).

The local paper in Australia The Herald Sun says about Heartbreak City 
In-form Irish galloper which has won four of his last five starts, including two hurdle races.

Won the Ebor easily last start at York which is a good lead-up race for the Melbourne Cup. 

Jockey Joao Moreira rides.