Melham hoping for a change of fortune

BEN Melham reckons he is unlucky not to already have a Caulfield Cup on the mantelpiece after one ride on lrish horse Johannes Vermeer.

The jockey has now turned his attention to winning a bigger prize — today’s $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer, who is raced by a group including prominent Australian owner Lloyd Williams, has produced two eyecatching spring carnival runs without landing a major prize.

His fast-finishing second with Katelyn Mallyon aboard in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) was followed up by a luckless third under Melham in the $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) a week later.

Johannes Vermeer is among the leading Melbourne Cup contenders in his first test at 3200m.

“He probably should have won the Caulfield Cup,” Melham said. “We had a chequered run. He didn’t have a lot of luck and he still ran very well.

“Obviously he hasn’t been beyond the mile-and-a-half (2400m) but my gut feeling is he’ll run the two miles.

“And I think if he does run the two miles, he’ll run very well.”

Co-owner Nick Williams said Johannes Vermeer had done nothing wrong since arriving.

“There seems to be doubts around the place about whether he’ll see the trip out. Certainly none from within the stable,” Williams said. “So we’re very confident with him.

“He’s drawn perfectly and we expect a really solid run. I know Aidan is very keen on him.”

Melham said it was a competitive Cup with many form lines from around the world, but Johannes Vermeer easily represented his best Melbourne Cup chance yet.

He has barrier three and the jockey says the horse is versatile.

“It’s great to be on a great chance,” he said.