The Lloyd Williams owned Green Moon has been given the all clear to run in Tuesday’s Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington after working at Moonee Valley today.
Green Moon will run in the Melbourne Cup after being cleared by vets. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Green Moon was under a cloud after pulling up battered and bruised after an out of character seventh to Ocean Park in last week’s Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
The Robert Hichmott trained five year was cleared by Racing Victoria Vets yesterday and part owner Nick Williams released a short statement via twitter that Green Moon would be lining up on Tuesday in the Melbourne Cup.
“Green Moon worked strongly at Moonee Valley this morning,” Williams tweeted.
“All being well he will take his place in the Melbourne Cup. Brett Prebble will ride.”
Australian jockey Brett Prebble has had a long association with Williams and will fly in from Hong Kong to reunited with the four time Melbourne Cup winning owner.
Prebble, who has been based in Hong Kong since 2002 finished third in last seasons jockey’s premiership with sixty-three winners and has ridden eight for the current year.
Big race jockey Craig Williams was originally disappointed with Green Moon’s Cox Plate effort after being sent out the $5 favourite.
“You don’t win many weight-for-age races sitting three-wide,” Craig Williams said after the Cox Plate.
“He got tightened and buffeted around coming out of the straight the first time but he didn’t show his usual guts and determination today. I’d just like to see how he pulls up because that’s not the horse I know.”
Craig Williams will be on French stayer Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup after steering the Mikel Delzangles trained seven year old to victory in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20.
Dunaden received a 1kg Melbourne Cup penalty for the Caulfield Cup win forcing him to carry 59kg, which has seen him slip to $7 and lose the top spot to Americain who has firmed to $6 with the announcement that top Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver has taken the mount.
Green Moon is currently at $21 in the market order with Williams’ other certain Cup runner Mourayan at $31.
Williams other two Cup hopefuls Tanby and Excluded have to win the Group 3 $250,000 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington tomorrow to gain a ballot free entry and are at long odds for Tuesday.
