Three of his contenders are owned by Lloyd Williams – the Hall of Fame owner with six Melbourne Cup victories – and his quartet of runners are all intriguing in their own way. Downdraft secured his spot with an impressive Hotham Stakes victory on Saturday and while he only has a three-day turnaround, two horses have followed up successfully in the Melbourne Cup since the turn of the millennium. His father Aidan has landed the majority of the world's leading flat prizes with the Melbourne Cup a rare omission from his glittering CV and the Ballydoyle maestro bids to rectify that with three chances. Ryan Moore rides the consistent Magic Wand, Seamie Heffernan partners recent Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Hunting Horn and Wayne Lordan, fresh from Breeders' Cup success, rides Il Paradiso. The draw (stall 24) isn't too much of an issue but the question mark is the trip," Comerford said.

Source: Irish Independent November 04, 2019 21:20 UTC