Rekindling to make return
Williams has trio primed to run in Cup
LEVIATHAN owner Llloyd Williams has confirmed he will have three starters in the $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, including Melbourne Cup winners Rekindling and Almandin.
That pair will be joined by The Taj Mahal.
Williams also announced his riders for his trio with Ben Melham riding Rekindling, Damien Oliver on Almandin and Brett Prebble on The Taj Mahal.
Williams confirmed Johannes Vermeer wouldn’t start in the Australian Cup but would head to Sydney.
Rekindling is an $11 chance, Almandin is $17 and The Taj Mahal is $21 with Ladbrokes.
Rekindling, a five-year-old stallion, hasn’t started since he won the 2017 Melbourne Cup in what has been his only Australian start.
Star jockey Oliver will ride Almandin and Williams expressed satisfaction with how he is going.
The nine-year-old gelding hasn’t started since he finished eighth in last year’s Sydney Cup.
He also ran in last year’s Australian Cup and finished fourth.
Williams was also upbeat about The Taj Mahal and predicted “he will run very well”.
He said he needed the run when he finished eighth in the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield when first-up.
Williams said that trio and Johannes Vermeer will next head to Sydney to contest their feature staying races.
Rekindling and Almandin are both entered for the Sydney Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Williams said he was extremely pleased with Johannes Vermeer’s first-up fourth in the Blamey Stakes on Saturday which was his first run since he finished second to Rekindling in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.
“I was very happy. It was a very positive return,” Williams said.
Williams said Johannes Vermer will run in the $350,000 Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 16 and will then back up in the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) a week later.