Second in this same race one year ago, Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) stepped up to go one better Wednesday, stretching out from the GI Christope Clement Turf at 1 1/2 miles to win the marathon 2 1/16-mile Marsh McLennan Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes.A true war horse who has contested six straight graded stakes races between last September's Gold Cup runner up and now, the 3-2 favorite took down the two-mile GII Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga June 4 with a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure but weakened to fifth most recently in the aforementioned Christophe Clement Turf Stakes in New York aug. 15.Back to Kentucky Downs, the favorite came away mid pack and was able to tuck down as the inside runners went forward to pace the field through the opening furlongs. Hugging the fence into the first of three bends, Tawny Port settled nicely as the field strung out down the front stretch for the first time led by Goldeneye (Hard Spun), also the pacesetter in last year's edition of this face, who opened up a sizable advantage as they entered the clubhouse turn. Still galloping nicely at halfway, Tawny Port still waited under Flavien Prat as Goldeneye's lead stretched to double digits. Finally given some rein, the favorite began to eat into the leading margin, working his way up the fence as the field caught that loose leader, swarming around all sides with Tawny Port surging to the inside of the tiring Goldeneye as that runner began to lug out. With just Lambeth to deal with in the final sixteenth, Tawny Port held that runner at bay for the three-quarter length win.“I need to speak with [Peachtree Stables'] Mr. [John] Fort, but I would be game to do it, why not? We've done a lot of bold things in the stable lately,” winning trainer Miguel Clement told the TDN of a potential next start in the Nov. 2 Melbourne Cup. “I was there once when I was on the Flying Start program, it's a great race. My owner is keen to run him in the Canadian International and then bring him back for some of the big races in New York, but winning this race perhaps gives me a little more leeway. Regardless, I think the horse is very talented and let's see how he comes out of it, but we are heavily considering the race.”One of four winners for his stakes-winning first dam, Tawny Port has a yearling half-brother by Cody's Wish and a weanling half-sister by Maclean's Music yet to represent the family.MARSH MCLENNAN BOWLING GREEN GOLD CUP INVITATIONAL S., $701,250, Kentucky Downs, 9-9, 3yo/up,2 1/16mT, 3:27.91, fm.1–TAWNY PORT, 124, h, 7, Pioneerof the Nile–Livi Makenzie(SW & MGSP, $354,069), by Macho Uno. ($430,000 Ylg '20KEESEP). O-Peachtree Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);T-Miguel Clement; J-Flavien Prat. $447,038. Lifetime Record:MGSW/GISP, 34-7-6-5, $2,801,631. *1/2 to Broadway Lady(Constitution), GSP, $211,051.2–Lambeth, 120, h, 5, Arrogate–South Bank, by Tapit.($135,000 3yo '24 FTDOCT). O-Carl R. Moore Management,LLC; B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Joe Sharp. $146,625.3–Greystone, 120, g, 6, Will Take Charge–Like a Gem,by Tactical Cat. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Run Your Race Stables andMauro Iriarte; B-Garland E. Williamson (ON); T-Michael J.Maker. $35,813.Margins: 3/4, 2, HD. Odds: 1.50, 14.44, 13.10.Also Ran: Goldeneye, Navy Seal (Ire), Truly Quality, Limited Liability, Passing Game. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.The post Tawny Port Could Target The Melbourne Cup After Gold Cup Win At Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.