PARIS EYES MARMELO
MARMELO’S trainer, Hughie Morrison, is confident his horse had recovered from the flashy sixth in the Caulfield Cup, which prompted punters to get on board for today’s Melbourne Cup.
The European stayer, who has drawn barrier 16, has been well backed, firming from $10 into $8 favourite.
Morrison said the preparation had gone to plan, and it was now over to jockey Hugh Bowman to do the rest.
“I don’t think I’ll give Hugh Bowman instructions. He’s ridden the horse at home, he’s ridden it in a race. I think in a 23-runner race you let the jockey make up his mind as the race unfolds,” he said.
Craig Williams is brimming with confidence, declaring a 5kg weight drop will make Irish stayer Wall Of Fire a force to be reckoned with in the $6 million race.
Williams said Wall Of Fire ticked plenty of Melbourne Cup boxes but pointed to the weight drop since he ran second in the Herbert Power Stakes last month, where the five-year-old beat home Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time, as the biggest advantage.
“I love his international form, he has a nice acceleration that comes with that, and most importantly he ticks the boxes that he has had one race in Australia and he competed really well,” Williams said. “When he competed in the Herbert Power he had 58kg and he has dropped to 53kg for the Melbourne Cup.
“When you look at him, he competed so well with that weight. But to drop down 5kg, at two miles, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Wall Of Fire t remained steady at $13 with the TAB.
Trainer Darren Weir is doing his part to hold off the raiders with three runners — Humidor ($10), Amelie’s Star ($18) and Big Duke ($19).
Weir maintained Humidor was the pick of the lot.
“I think he can run the trip but everybody else doesn’t seem to,” he said.