The team behind the spring cups bid of English contender Mad Rush have likened the stayer to last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon.Francesca Cumani said Mad Rush, trained by her father Luca Cumani, was capable of going one better than Purple Moon in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4.Purple Moon looked set to give Cumani the 2007 Melbourne Cup until he was cut down in the final stages by Efficient."Yes I do think he's good enough," the trainer's daughter said when quizzed on

The team behind the spring cups bid of English contender Mad Rush have likened the stayer to last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon.

Francesca Cumani said Mad Rush, trained by her father Luca Cumani, was capable of going one better than Purple Moon in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4.

Purple Moon looked set to give Cumani the 2007 Melbourne Cup until he was cut down in the final stages by Efficient.

"Yes I do think he's good enough," the trainer's daughter said when quizzed on Mad Rush's Melbourne Cup chances.

"He's quite similar to Purple Moon last year.

"Physically they are very similar horses, they can both cruise really well.

"They have a decent turn of foot and he's got 53.5 kilograms, which is what Purple Moon had last year, so I'd say they are really comparable."

Mad Rush enjoyed his first look at Sandown on Monday morning, walking a lap with a work companion from the Fran Houlahan stable.

He arrived in Melbourne with stablemate Bauer and Godolphin's All The Good and Book Of Music on Saturday.

Bauer and All The Good remained close to their quarantine quarters.

The two were taken for a walk and enjoyed a light pick of grass and are expected to take to the track later this week.

Mad Rush is an emerging stayer and is yet to miss a place in eight career starts, winning twice.

At his most recent start he was beaten a head in a Group Two race in France over 3000 metres.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver, who rode Purple Moon in the Melbourne Cup, has expressed an interest to try to win a record record-equalling fifth Caulfield Cup on Mad Rush.

Oliver has a number of cup options but will decide after Saturday's Turnbull Stakes meeting at Flemington which way he will go.

Cumani said she was looking forward to watching local superstar Weekend Hussler in action in this Saturday's Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington before Mad Rush clashes with him in the Caulfield Cup.

"I've heard all sorts of amazing stories about him, how he's the wonder horse," Cumani said.

"We hear lots about him, that he's the second coming, and everything else."