Does big-spending Lloyd Williams have a stayer capable of winning the Melbourne Cup this year? Well, nothing really stands out - except, perhaps, Base, who has his first-up run in the final race at Moonee Valley on Saturday (Aug 20). Williams reckons Base is a nice horse,but concedes he'll need to lift two or three lengths from the autumn to make an impact on the spring. In latest betting, Base is at 9/2 for the McLeod 1523m hdcp at Moonee Valley. The Zabeel 5YO is 40/1 for the Caulfield Cup and

Does big-spending Lloyd Williams have a stayer capable of winning the Melbourne Cup this year? Well, nothing really stands out - except, perhaps, Base, who has his first-up run in the final race at Moonee Valley on Saturday (Aug 20). Williams reckons Base is a nice horse,but concedes he'll need to lift two or three lengths from the autumn to make an impact on the spring. In latest betting, Base is at 9/2 for the McLeod 1523m hdcp at Moonee Valley. The Zabeel 5YO is 40/1 for the Caulfield Cup and 33/1 for the Melbourne Cup. He hasn't raced since a slashing 3rd/15 in the Grp 3 Queens Cup 2000m at Rosehill on Apr 2.