Smoothie to defend Geelong Cup crown

Ten horses will square-off for a Melbourne Cup ticket in Wednesday’s Group 3 Geelong Cup, including last year’s winner, UK-raider Onesmoothoperator.

Brian Ellison’s galloper, who won the 2024 edition impressively prior to a midfield finish in the Melbourne Cup, will once again be ridden by Craig Williams and has drawn the second outside gate in nine.

Whisky On The Hill, luckless in the Herbert Power last start, is alongside him in eight, with Tassie visitor Distrustful Award copping the very outside gate.

Berkeley Square (gate six) and Changingoftheguard (gate seven) have drawn well, as has the King’s horse Gilded Water in four, to be steered by Declan Bates.

Grand Pierro (one), Fernao (two) and Ferago (five) round out the field.

The day’s other feature, the 2200 metre Listed Geelong Classic, has a full field of 16 three-year-olds and an emergency, with Highvol, Matsuda, Azazel and Crown Of Russia some acceptors of note.