Dream ride for Hugh
HUGH Bowman has quickly shifted focus from the heights of Winx’s Cox Plate triumph to declaring British horse Marmelo a “realistic chance” of delivering a childhood dream in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Upbeat after last year’s joint Cup favourite completed a resounding 1600m gallop at Werribee against fellow raider Magic Circle, Bowman believes Marmelo is right in the mix.
“He’s a bit stronger this year, there’s no doubt about that,” Bowman said.
“More mature this year … the horse appears to have travelled over well.”
Marmelo finished ninth in last season’s Cup after an eyecatching Caulfield Cup sixth.
OUTSIDER Red Alto scored a fighting local victory, defying Melbourne Cup hopefuls to win the Bendigo Cup.
Potential Cup runners Dal Harraild, Sir Charles Road and Lord Fandango were held at bay in the 2400m race yesterday by the Brent Stanley-trained stayer.
Trained at nearby Sutton Grange, Red Alto ($71) fought off Dal Harraild ($5.50) by a half-neck with Sir Charles Road ($12) a long-head away third.
“He’s performed against these kind of horses before,” Stanley said.
“He ran fourth in a Victoria Derby, sixth in a Queensland Derby but he’s just needed everything to go right at the end of a long preparation.”