Almandin outright Cup favourite following Flemington win

Almandin
Melbourne Cup winner Almandin picks at some grass with the trophy at Macedon on November 02, 2016 in Macedon, Australia. (John Donegan/Racing Photos)

2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin looks set for another strong performance in the race that stops a nation after taking out the Group Three Japan Racing Association Plate.

The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding, which resumed in eye-catching fashion last week at Moonee Valley, took the lead before the 200m mark and sped away in one of the more impressive wins at Flemington for the day, returning $5.30 at WilliamHill.com.au.

Former Irish galloper Crocodile Rock ($1.60 at Crownbet.com.au) put its horror performance at Sandown a few weeks ago behind it after claiming second while the winner’s stablemate Aloft rounded out the placings to deliver $3 via Ladbrokes.com.au.

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The win was all about Almandin and its preparation towards the Melbourne Cup, as Ladbrokes.com.au wound the seven-year-old into outright favourite ($8) for the 2017 edition of the race.

Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver said the ease in which Almandin took out the group three race was “extraordinary”.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a stayer where I’ve had my feet on the dashboard so far from home,” Oliver said.

“That was really exciting. He’s certainly come back better than ever this horse.”

The three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey believes it is all coming together for the defending cup champion.

“he’s heading in the right direction and he’s in the right stable so let’s keep our fingers crossed he stays all together in one piece and we get there on the big day.”

The consummate professionalism of the win is what will force most bookies to wind Almandin in on Melbourne Cup betting markets, and Macedon Lodge representative Nick Williams said he was “surprised” by just how easy the seven-year-old did it.

“The way he just cruised past them at 61kg is a pretty good effort isn’t it?” Williams said.

“He’s obviously in good form, all the team up there at the farm have done a great job and it’s great to see Aloft and Croc Rock run so well.

“That’s as good as you’ll see, that win.”

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The Melbourne Cup looms as the main target for the Hickmott gelding, but Williams said the Caulfield Cup could be a distinct possibility after changes were made to potential penalties coming out of the group one race.

Whilst not confirming the horse will run in the feature at Caulfield, Williams said the cup is “on the table” for Almandin.

“It’s very simple, the horse will tell us where he goes,” the stable rep said.

“Whether it’s the Bart Cummings, whether it’s the Herbert Power, whether it’s the Caulfield Cup, whether it’s the Cox Plate or whether it’s the Moonee Valley Cup, (we will) make that decision in due course.

“I wouldn’t want to encourage any punters to back him in the Caulfield Cup but I wouldn’t want to dissuade them either.

“In due course that decision will be made.”

Almandin is the $9 third favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to win the 2017 Caulfield Cup.

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