Liam Howley is hoping to saddle up his first Melbourne Cup runner next Tuesday, with plans to accept with Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor) in the A$8.4 million race.
For a period, Howley was private trainer for the Melbourne Cup’s most-successful owner, Lloyd Williams, but didn’t saddle a starter in his own name on the first Tuesday in November.
A big part of the preparation of Almandin and his Cup preparation in 2016, the Macedon Lodge-based trainer is well equipped to tick off the milestone in his own name.
“It’s a very costly exercise for a young team, there is no Lloyd Williams in the ownership,” he said.
“It’s exciting, we’ve been going for three years.
“It’s David versus Goliath for sure but we are here to take them on.
“But I think at his best he is better than half the field and that’s all you’ve got to be.
“If he can pay his way and make it worth the experience, but at the same time I don’t want to just be sending him around and making up the numbers.”
Howley is expected to come up against his old boss, who has the Kris Lees-trained Cleveland and Gai and Adrian Bott-prepared Serpentine aiming for a historic eighth Cup win.
To accept in the Melbourne Cup costs a total of A$58,500 after four stages of declarations, with prizemoney up to 12th placing paying out A$160,000.
Virtuous Circle is a $51 chance with Sportsbet.
“I wasn’t put off by the Geelong Cup and felt he had genuine excuses,” Howley explained.
“He just didn’t settle that great and I don’t think he does his best work ridden like that and didn’t let go late.
“I am happy to rule a line (through that run), he’s come out of it well and is nice and bright.
“Had he drawn a wider gate (in the Bart Cummings) and been able to get clean air at the right time, his run looks a lot better and he’s in the conversation.
“He has given me that feel this prep, at the start of the prep I thought a truly run 2000 metres but as the prep has deepened, he has really settled into that real staying mould.”
Howley’s final decision will come after a course-proper gallop at either Bendigo or Kyneton on Thursday morning.
A Melbourne Cup rider is yet to be booked in.
