Underwood win confers cup start

MELBOURNE: Lloyd and Nick Williams’ Macedon Lodge stable is starting to strike top form as the spring carnival gets into full swing.

The Taj Mahal won his way into Caulfield Cup calculations with victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night and is set to be joined by Homesman after his win in the Underwood Stakes last night.

Homesman, who has 53kg in the 2400m $5 million handicap on October 20, earned a ballot exemption with the win.

Giving jockey Ben Melham his 16th group 1 success, Homesman scored a shorthead win from the Darren Weirtrained Tosen Basil ($71), whose stablemate Humidor ($7.50) was another halflength third.

‘‘Ben gave him a great ride and I think 1800m is a bit short of his optimum trip,’’ Nick Williams said. ‘‘It’s great to get the group 1 up for him and that gives him a ballotfree exemption into the Caulfield Cup and I’d imagine, all things being equal, that’s where we’ll head.’’

Melham described Homesman as a beautiful animal. The horse resumed with a second placing in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 8 and Melham said the extra ground yesterday was ideal.

‘‘He ran really well in the Dato and up to a more suitable trip, blinkers back on, he’s just a real tradesman,’’ he said. ‘‘Credit to the stable; they’re going well and in for a good spring, I think.’’

Chris Connet, representing English Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, was happy with the fourthplaced finish of Blair House ($5).

‘‘He went as well as we hoped. It was what we wanted to see,’’ he said.—