Almandin jockeying heating up

FIVE-TIME Melbourne Cupwinning owner Lloyd Williams has been inundated with text messages from jockeys keen to ride on Almandin after Damien Oliver’s suspension.

Riders from Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia are in the chase after Oliver was outed on an improper riding charge aboard Happy Clapper in the Cox Plate on Saturday.

Oliver has lodged an appeal against the ban, which would keep him out until November 16. The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will hear his case this afternoon.

Almandin is a $7.50 third favourite with UBET for the Cup behind Humidor ($6) and Marmelo ($7). He is seeking back-to-back Cup victories following last year’s success under Kerrin McEvoy.

“I’ll have to have a think about what’s best for the horse with 56.5kg,” Williams said. “It’s not much point putting on someone that weighs 52(kg).

“Steve Arnold is an example. He would have been my first pick, but he’s in Mauritius riding short-course horses, which isn’t the ideal practice for a Melbourne Cup.

“It’s not the end of the world. I’m sure someone will want to ride it.”

Williams said he had received many text messages, including one from Singaporebased Michael Rodd, who won the 2007 Melbourne Cup for Williams on Efficient.

“I haven’t spoken to Michael for two or three years and he sent me a nice text saying he would love to do an Efficient for me again,” he said.