The 7-year-old gelding Better Talk Now is not expected to defend his title in next Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War (gr. IT) at Belmont Park. Trainer H. Graham Motion says the 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner is likely to run in Woodbine's Sky Classic (Can-II) Sept. 24. Then Better Talk Now could ship to Australia for the Nov. 7 Melbourne Cup (Aus-I). "There's never been a North American horse that's run in the Melbourne Cup," Motion said. "It would be a great thing to do. I still feel the horse is as good as he's been in past years."
Better Talk Now won Pimlico's Dixie (gr. IIT) in May and has since finished fifth in the United Nations (gr. IT) and seventh in the Arlington Million (gr. IT). Those expected to run in the 11-furlong Man o' War on turf are Cacique, Go Deputy, Musketeir, and Relaxed Gesture. Revved Up, Silver Whistle, and Sky Conqueror are possible.