HEDDO HOPING FOR MELBOURNE CUP DREAM
JAMES Heddo will be anxiously awaiting the release of Melbourne Cup third acceptors tomorrow.
The former Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive is hoping to have his first runner in the great race at Flemington on Tuesday week.
Heddo is a part-owner of imported stayer Kings Valley, who ran second to stablemate Juja Kibo in yesterday’s $750,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington.
Victory would have clinched the gelding a berth in the $10m Cup (3200m), but Heddo now has to wait to see how things pan out.
Fifty-four horses remain in the famous “two-miler”, and that number will be dwindled further when third acceptances are taken at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning (Monday).
Twenty-four horses can start in the Cup, and Kings Valley is still well down the order of entry and not yet assured of a start amongst his trainer Ciaron Maher’s big team.
Heddo, now semi-retired and working part-time with Central Coast Basketball, flew to Melbourne a week ago to watch Kings Valley finish an unlucky fifth in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a $31 chance.
He struck trouble when Half Yours fell near the 300m, and Ohope Wins also crashed and sadly had to be euthanased.
“Kings Valley’s run was terrific,” Heddo said last night.
“I’m sure he would have been in the finish with a trouble-free run in the straight.”
Heddo was at the Men Matter raceday at the Gold Coast yesterday at the behest of friend and club chairman Brett Cook, and watched from afar as his gelding came from a “mile” back and just failed to overhaul his stablemate in the Moonee Valley Cup.
“It was a huge thrill to be at Caulfield last week with a runner in the Cup and to see him run so well without luck at a vital stage, and of course I will go back to Melbourne if Kings Valley gets a start in the Melbourne Cup,” Heddo said.
“We will just have to wait and see.”
Heddo purchased a share in Kings Valley when he was brought to Australia and syndicated after four starts for two placings in the UK in 2023.
“Kings Valley was syndicated within 24 hours, so I was lucky to become involved,” Heddo said.
“He earned a start in the Caulfield Cup by winning the Mornington Cup (2400m) in April, and Ciaron (Maher) immediately put him away to focus on the spring.
“Whilst it will be disappointing if he doesn’t make the Melbourne Cup field, there’s much to be positive about.
“He has had only 30 starts, and his runs in the Caulfield and Moonee Valley Cups have shown that he is up to this level.
“There’s no reason why he can’t be a major player in the big staying races next year.
“If Kings Valley misses out on the Cup, most likely he will go to the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.”
Heddo’s six-year-old is currently a $51 Melbourne Cup chance, but those odds will tighten if he makes the cut when final acceptances are taken.
Meanwhile, Maher has eight horses (Point Of Law, MrMonaco, Shockletz and Juja Kibo are already qualified) in the top 24 at present in ballot order.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 25, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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