Prominent owner Lloyd Williams says a decision on whether Green Moon takes his place in next Tuesday’s Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington will be made at the end of the week even though the beaten Cox Plate favourite was among the forty-six second acceptances today.

Green Moon

A decision on whether Green Moon wil contest the Melbourne Cup will be made on Friday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Final acceptances to determine the twenty-four horse field for the Melbourne Cup will be held on Saturday at 4.30pm Victorian time following the huge Derby Day meeting at Flemington.

Green Moon is one of four possible Melbourne Cup runners Williams could have, accepting also with Excluded, Mourayan and Tanby.

Williams, who has won the Melbourne Cup on three occasions with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985) and Efficient (2007) will make a decision on Friday if Green Moon will run next Tuesday after the six year old was on the end of severe buffeting when seventh in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

“There will be no decision before Friday,” Williams said.

“He’s sick and sorry for himself.”

Jockey Craig Williams was originally disappointed with the run but said that Green Moon did receive a fair bit of buffering in the straight the first time and was caught wide, giving him a tough run.

“You don’t win many weight-for-age races sitting three-wide,” Craig Williams said.

“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.”

Green Moon and Mourayan will go straight into the Melbourne Cup without  another run while Williams’ other two Cup hopefuls, Tanby and Excluded will have to win the Group 3 $250,000 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington to be guaranteed a Cup start.

French stayers Dunaden and Americain remain numbers one and two in the order of entry with  European horses Jakkalberry and Red Cadeaux prominent with imports Winchester and Voila Ici also second acceptors.

The Leon Macdonald trained Southern Speed in the highest ranked home grown at third spot in order with the Pat Carey trained Ethiopia at number seven.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.