Winston aboard Withhold for gelding’s final piece of work

Trained by Roger Charlton, Withhold has been impressive in winning his last two starts, and is one of the principal contenders towards the head of the market for this year’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), despite not being guaranteed a berth in the Flemington showpiece.

“Everything went well, he is really well within himself and the guys looking after him are doing an incredible job,” Winston told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“If you look at him, he’s very tight and is in great shape. He stretched out nicely and hopefully everything will go okay with him on his travels.”

Japanese raider Danon Distance (Rulership) had also been earmarked for a spin on the Al Bahathri, but instead worked on Side Hill with a number of fellow quarantine inmates.

Elsewhere, Pharrell (Manduro), Finche (Frankel) and Prize Money (Authorized) were the only ones not to exercise, while Prize Money’s Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemates Benbatl (Dubawi) and Best Solution (Kodiac) went up Warren Hill twice.

A number of quarantine horses are expected to be put through their paces for the final time on Tuesday before departing for Melbourne a few days later.