Marmelo in right mould
JOCKEY Hugh Bowman believes English raider Marmelo has the perfect profile to win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Having already scaled a major spring peak aboard Winx in the Cox Plate, Bowman is confident Marmelo can add further lustre to a glorious carnival.
Asked if the lightly raced stayer has the right profile to win Australia’s most famous race, Bowman said: “Yeah he does. I loved his last 200m of the Caulfield Cup and I love his temperament. He’s got an excellent action. Yeah, he does fit the profile. At least I hope he does.”
A charging Caulfield Cup sixth, Marmelo is UBET third favourite at $8.50 behind Humidor ($6.50) and Almandin ($7.50).
Bowman said the versatile
Prix Kergorlay winner had thrived since his Caulfield outing.
“I was very pleased with him leading into the Caulfield Cup and I feel that he’s come on,” he said. “Is he a better horse for having run there? I doubt it.
“But he certainly knows what he’s here for and he’s working with purpose.
“He’s really feeling good. History would say he’d be better for having the experience. I’m pleased he had it (the run). In my opinion, it brought him on.”
Bowman said he had “only just come back down to earth” in the aftermath of Winx’s historic third successive Cox Plate.
“On the Saturday night, I didn’t know if I was Arthur or Martha,” he said.
“I had dinner with some close friends but I found that I was in five conversations and not taking part in any of them for most of the night.”
He said he was unsure of trainer Chris Waller’s plans, including a possible Emirates Stakes tilt next week.