The big spring push by owner Lloyd Williams is currently in tatters. That's the only conclusion to be drawn from Sat's racing at Flemington. Lloyd admits it was not a bright day for his stable -- four of his Melbourne Cup hopes ran ordinarily. Three ran in the Makybe Diva Stakes and only former Kiwi galloper C'est La Guerre did OK, finishing 5th. Much-hyped imports Alandi - the equal topweight for the Melbourne Cup - and Mourayan, finished at the rear. LW says: 'We've had poor days at the races
The big spring push by owner Lloyd Williams is currently in tatters. That's the only conclusion to be drawn from Sat's racing at Flemington. Lloyd admits it was not a bright day for his stable -- four of his Melbourne Cup hopes ran ordinarily. Three ran in the Makybe Diva Stakes and only former Kiwi galloper C'est La Guerre did OK, finishing 5th. Much-hyped imports Alandi - the equal topweight for the Melbourne Cup - and Mourayan, finished at the rear. LW says: 'We've had poor days at the races before and have bounced back, so we'll regroup and go again.'
Alandi, a double Grp 1 winner in Europe, settled last and failed to pass a runner. 'LW says: 'He needs to be woken up...He's not fit at the moment but he's not showing us enough. We've got four weeks to get some fitness into him before the Turnbull.' Mourayan ran 14th and appeared to dislike the heavy conditions. Loyd was not even impressed by C'est La Guerre. He reckons it was only a fair run with a moderate finale. That wasn't the end of the black day. Lloyd's English stayer Martial Law was a well-btn 10th over 2000m. The one bright spot for the day was Linton's 3rd in the Sofitel 1400m.
Mick Price was pleased by the determined run of Heart of Dreams in the Makybe Diva. He says: 'He ran super from a bad gate. I am using these races to measure where I am with him and I'm fairly happy with what I'm seeing. He'll go to the Underwood, then Yalumba and then Cox Plate.'