Illo

Prominent owner Richard Pegum is happy with the progress of his Melbourne Cup runner Illo ahead of next Tuesday’s race.

Pegum, who also owns My Kingdom Of Fife and December Draw, purchased Illo from Germany earlier this year after he demonstrated staying success in Europe.

“We bought this horse in July it had just won a Group 3 race,” Pegum said.

“We got it at a reasonable price.”

Illo posted a gallant third in the Group 2 Drake International Cup last weekend after spending an extensive period in quarantine.

“He only got out of quarantine three or four weeks ago,” Pegum said.

“The horse needed the run, he’ll improve three or four lengths (for the Melbourne Cup)”

“I think we’ll be competitive, if we run in the first five I’ll be happy.”

Pegum, who himself owns around 25 different race horses, has enjoyed much success with his gallopers this spring.

“We were just lucky enough to have three good ones in a row,” he said of December Draw, My Kingdom Of Fife and Illo.

“Most of our horses we buy out of the stables, we don’t buy them at auction.”

Illo is currently trained by legendary Melbourne Cup trainer Bart Cummings.

“I try to marry the horse with the trainer,” Pegum said.

“Illo’s quite a light horse and Bart Cummings is the best feeder in Australia.”

The lightly raced five-year-old entire has won three of his 11 career starts going into the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup.