Childs gets a Cup ride

Jordan Childs has bounced back from the disappointment of losing the ride on one- time Melbourne Cup favourite Surprise Baby to nab the mount on Willie Mullins’ Cup contender Stratum Albion.

Childs, the son of two- time Cox Plate winning hoop Greg, was all class in August when learning he had been sacked in favour of Craig Williams for the spring ride on Surprise Baby.

At the time, Jordan Childs said: “I have lost the Melbourne Cup ride but I’m not losing hope, things change quickly over spring,“Childs said.

“I am not going to burn any bridges. “I’ve just got to keep chipping away and keep working hard and hopefully find another one.”

And that is exactly what has transpired with Irish training wizard Mullins booking Childs for the Melbourne Cup ride on Stratum Albion.

Stratum Albion has successfully mixed hurdling and flat racing over the past few years. But the eight- yearold ran a solid second in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup ( 3270m) on the flat at his last run in August.

He is going into the Melbourne Cup without an Australian lead- up run and is rated a $ 34 chance by TAB.

In other Melbourne Cup news, Damian Lane has been booked for Danny O’Brien runner King Of Leogrance, who is currently No. 23 in the order of entry. But there is still a chance he could miss the Cup field if Zebrowski ( No. 25) wins Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup and gets handed a Cup penalty.

The winner of Saturday’s Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes at Flemington wins a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is still without a jockey for this year’s race however Fred Kersley and Jamie Mott are two names in the mix.

If King Of Leogrance failed to snare a Cup start, Lane could potentially be another option for Vow And Declare’s 2020 Melbourne Cup bid.