RACING O’Brien eyeing options
LLOYD Williams will leave the decision as to whether his star stayer Order Of St George runs in this year’s Melbourne Cup to his trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Williams said a decision would be made next Monday whether the horse is set for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or the Melbourne Cup.
Williams said Order Of St George was back to his best after his nine- length win in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh yesterday.
Order Of St George was equal top- weight in last year’s Melbourne Cup with 58kg and will almost certainly be again when weights are released today.
O’Brien indicated that the French race, in which Order Of St George finished third last year, may be preferred.
“Now we have a decision to make and it will be made quite soon. We’ll think about the Melbourne Cup but we could send him back to the Arc instead,” O’Brien said.
It was his second win in the Irish St Leger. He won by 11 lengths in 2015 and last year finished second to Wicklow Brave who finished fourth this time around.
Order Of St George firmed from $ 26 to $ 17 with UBET for the Melbourne Cup after his win.
“He’s an unbelievable horse,” O’Brien said. “He has class. You saw what he did in the Arc last year. He handles all grounds and he can stay as far as 2 ½ miles ( 4000m).
Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said that win did not mean he would carry more than 58kg as his rating was similar to last year.
Williams said last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Almandin was going well after his first run since that win when he finished second at Moonee Valley.
He said there was a chance Almandin could run at Flemington on Saturday in the $ 120,000 JRA Trophy Cup ( 2500m).
Williams said his decision would be made after he saw what weight his opposition would be carrying.
Williams also has Aloft, Bondi Beach, Crocodile Rock, Foundry, Gallante, Granddukeoftuscany and Kilimanjaro entered.
VR