Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams will play a double hand in the C F Orr Stakes with champion veteran Zipping and emerging star Linton.Jockeys Nicholas Hall and Michael Rodd have been engaged but Williams has not yet decided on their mounts in Saturday's Group One feature which will kick start Australian Cup campaigns for both gallopers.Williams had considered running Zipping first up in the Australian Cup, which he won last year, but is now keen to start him off earlier and give a run before the F
Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams will play a double hand in the C F Orr Stakes with champion veteran Zipping and emerging star Linton.
Jockeys Nicholas Hall and Michael Rodd have been engaged but Williams has not yet decided on their mounts in Saturday's Group One feature which will kick start Australian Cup campaigns for both gallopers.
Williams had considered running Zipping first up in the Australian Cup, which he won last year, but is now keen to start him off earlier and give a run before the Flemington feature on March 12.
The nine-year-old is $5.50 equal favourite with Whobegotyou in TAB Sportsbet's Cup market after another outstanding spring.
At his most recent start he won his fourth consecutive Sandown Classic (2400m) after finishing fourth for the third time in the Melbourne Cup and second in the Cox Plate after two previous placings.
He is peerless over 2000 metres at Flemington, franking his Australian Cup winning form with victory in the Group One Turnbull Stakes last October.
Williams said there were no better form races than the Turnbull and the Cox Plate heading towards the Australian Cup.
"The first five horses in the Turnbull, outside So You Think, is the best weight-for-age form and then there is the Cox Plate which is also a really good guide," Williams said.
He said Linton would get his chance to step up in the Australian Cup, describing the 2000 metres as possibly a better distance for him than the longer races.
"He has improved and a race like the Australian Cup probably should suit him," Williams said.
"I am not absolutely certain he is a genuine staying horse."
An exciting four-year-old, Linton won the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield last spring and was second to Maluckyday in the Group Three Lexus (2500m) at Flemington before failing to back up in the Melbourne Cup and finishing third last.
The Galileo gelding is $17 for the Australian Cup.
Rodd will have mixed emotions when riding for Williams against the Kavanagh stable after owner Laurence Eales sacked him from both Shocking and Whobegotyou.
Rodd won the 2007 Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup for Williams on Efficient but has also relished his association with Whobegotyou who was third in last year's Cox Plate.
He also rode Shocking who was second to Zipping in the Turnbull.
Shocking will resume in the Orr Stakes (1400m) while Whobegotyou is scheduled to return in the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 26.
Rodd has won two Sandown Classics on Zipping and steered Linton to victory in last year's Group Two Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Australia Stakes winner Whitefriars will be missing from the Orr line-up due to an elevated temperature.