2025 Melbourne Cup favourite Presage Nocturne resented tight racing, trainer Alessandro Botti says

Presage Nocture was hammered late in the market to jump $5.50 favourite but never threatened at Flemington.

The French stayer settled worse than midfield, between Valiant King and Vauban, and then struck traffic in the straight.

Jockey Stephane Pasquier looked after the horse late, going to the post largely under his own steam.

Botti said Presage Nocture could next campaign in the Middle East but not before a trip home to France.

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“I think the race was not really perfect for our horse,” Botti said.

“For the moment everything is OK, the vet checked the horse, he’s perfect.

“He didn’t like the tight (racing style), but the race was a good experience for everybody, the race is the race.”

Pasquier echoed the sentiment post-race, with Presage Nocturne never comfortable in the run.

“A bit disappointed because he was favoured in the odds,” Pasquier said.

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Presage Nocturne wound up ominously to run fourth in the Caulfield Cup the start prior, but could not repeat the dose.

Botti took some solace in Half Yours, the only Australian-bred horse in the Cup field, completing the double.

“The horse that won the race is the one that won the Caulfield Cup, our horse didn’t like the race today,” Botti said.

Dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra lamented the weight on Al Riffa, the equal second favourite.

Zahra settled towards the rear of the field from barrier 19 and worked into the picture late to run seventh without ever threatening.

“It was OK. I was four-wide and had to find a spot to get in and there was too much to do with that weight,” Zahra said.

Al Riffa lumped 59kg in the Cup as a multiple European Group 1 winner.

Makybe Diva carried 58kg to victory in 2005, while Think Big has the modern weight-carrying record with 58.5kg back in 1975.

Originally published as 2025 Melbourne Cup favourite Presage Nocturne resented tight racing, trainer Alessandro Botti says