European bookies respond to Arc run by making Irish raider favourite

Mick Kinane has been presented with a wonderful chance to win a second Melbourne Cup following news that Oscar Schindler is a confirmed runner is Australia's great 'two miler'. After much soul-searching, owner Ollie Lehane has decided to let the vastly improved four year old take his chance on the long journey Down Under. Kinane will take over from Texan-born Cash Asmussen, who was strongly criticised for the ride he gave the horse in last Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Nobody could quite understand why Asmussen had Oscar Schindler at the rear of the field after they had travelled half a mile; in fact, it seemed a miracle that the Kevin Prendergast-trained horse could make up the ground he did, coming from last at the half mile.

There is no way he could have beaten the five-length winner Helissio, but there is little doubt he could have beaten Pilsudski for second. Instead he had to settle for third, but in the process gave ante-post punters a chance to gauge his prospects in the Melbourne Cup. Owner Lehane, said from Ireland yesterday: 'We asked Cash to be in the first five or six, because Oscar Schindler has the best cruising speed you have ever seen. 'Unfortunately, I went to Longchamp without my binoculars so I couldn't see where he was, but when I watched the video later I was shocked to see him so far back. 'Cash said Oscar Schindler was the freshest horse he had ever ridden in an Arc,' he added. Kinane, of course, rode Zagreb in Sunday's Arc due to his commitment to trainer Dermot Weld.

But the 10-time Irish champion has already clinched the coveted mount on Oscar Schindler in the Melbourne Cup, which he won in 1993 at the first attempt on Vintage Crop. Kinane has mixed feelings about Australia's greatest race, for after his early triumph he was criticised when 7th and 3rd, respectively, in subsequent runnings of the Cup on the same horse. Kinane won on Oscar Schindler at Chester and Royal Ascot earlier this year and rates the powerfully built chestnut an ideal prospect for the race that stops a nation.

'He's got a good cruising speed and can accelerate. The 3,200 metres will be no problem for him,' said Kinane. For Kevin Prendergast, the Melbourne venture represents a fairy tale return to the place of his birth.

Although he has lived and worked in Ireland almost his entire life, strong family ties to Australia have tipped the balance in favour of a journey that could well be the racing adventure of a lifetime for connections. Oscar Schindler has been in quarantine since returning from Paris on Monday. He is booked to leave for Australia on Monday week and will then spend a further two weeks in isolation at Sandown Park in Melbourne. Bookmakers have reacted in Europe by installing Oscar Schindler as Melbourne Cup favourite at 4-1 generally.

This price reflects not only the outstanding credentials of the Irish-trained runner - and his extremely attractive weight of 56.5 kilos - it underlines the weakness in the staying ranks in Australasia. Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori looks set to ride Grey Shot in the Melbourne Cup.