Cup winner worth the weight rise

LEGENDARY owner Lloyd Williams will aim Almandin at back-to-back Melbourne Cups despite the threat of a hefty rise in the weights.

Almandin could be given 4-6kg more this year in the great staying race after carrying 52kg to victory at Flemington last year.

The Robert Hickmotttrained gelding was given 58kg for last month’s Sydney Cup before connections pulled the pin on an autumn campaign.

Williams said yesterday Almandin would follow a similar preparation to last year, with two runs – a maximum of three – before the Cup.

“He will be trying to go back-to-back,” five-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner Williams said.

“He’s a bit above himself still. We haven’t trimmed him up yet but towards August or so he will be looking a bit more serious than he’s looking today.

“I think weight will play a big part with him, how much weight he has to carry. It’s pretty hard to win back-tobacks especially in this day and age as the race has been internationalised.”

Almandin has not raced since the Melbourne Cup.

If successful this November, the rising eight-year-old son of Monsun would become the oldest Cup winner since 1938.