British raider gets Bowman excited

HUGH Bowman believes English raider Marmelo has the perfect profile to win Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

Having already scaled a major peak aboard Winx in the Cox Plate, Bowman is confident Marmelo can add further lustre to a glorious carnival.

Asked if the lightly raced stayer has the right profile to win Australia’s most famous race, Bowman said: “Yeah he does. I loved his last 200m of the Caulfield Cup and I love his temperament.

“He’s got an excellent action. Yeah, he does fit the profile. At least I hope he does.”

A charging Caulfield Cup sixth, Marmelo is TAB third favourite at $9 behind Almandin ($7) and Humidor ($8).

Bowman said Prix Kergorlay winner had thrived since his Caulfield outing.

“I was very pleased with him leading into the Caulfield Cup and I feel that he’s come on,” he said. “Is he a better horse for having run there? I doubt it.

“But he certainly knows what he’s here for and he’s working with purpose. “He’s really feeling good. “History would say he’d be better for having the experi- ence. I’m pleased he had it [the run]. In my opinion, it brought him on.

“A bit like the Cox Plate, the Cup just can’t come quickly enough.”

Bowman said he had “only just come back down to earth” in the heady aftermath of Winx’s historic Cox Plate.

“On the Saturday night, I didn’t know if I was Arthur or Martha,” he said.

He said he was unsure of trainer Chris Waller’s plans for the mare, including a possible Emirates Stakes tilt next week, but admitted feeling the weight of history before the Cox Plate.