ALMANDIN ONE RUN SHY OF CUP DEFENCE
OWNER Lloyd Williams has confirmed Almandin will have one more start before he tries to become the sixth horse to win consecutive Melbourne Cups.
Williams has also declared Irish galloper Rekindling as the other horse he is pinning his hopes on in his bid to win a sixth Melbourne Cup, saying he was “keen on him”.
He said Rekindling was possibly the best young stayer he has owned since 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient.
Williams said Almandin would run in The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington tomorrow week or the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield a week later.
Jockey Damien Oliver yesterday showed his commitment to the Melbourne Cup favourite, telling trainer David Hayes he wouldn’t be able to ride his horse Vega Magic in $10 million The Everest at Randwick on October 14 because it clashed with the Herbert Power race day.
Oliver has had three rides on Almandin for three wins but couldn’t make the weight to ride him in the 2016 Melbourne Cup.
Almandin won The Bart Cummings last year before being successful in the Cup, when ridden by Kerrin McEvoy.
Almandin is $6 favourite for the Melbourne Cup and Rekindling a $51 chance.
Williams guaranteed Oliver the ride in this year’s Cup after the pair combined to win the JRA Trophy (2500m) at Flemington on September 16.
Oliver is seeking to win his fourth Melbourne Cup, which would equal the record set by Harry White and Bobbie Lewis.
Williams is still looking for a Cup rider for Rekindling, who will carry 51.5kg and is trained by Joseph O’Brien.
Last start Rekindling finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in the 2800m English St Leger at Doncaster in England.
Two other Williams horses trained in Ireland, Johannes Vermeer (Caulfield Cup) and Taj Mahal (Cox Plate), arrive in Melbourne tomorrow.