Flemington trainer Mike Moroney is giving his stayer Vengeur Masque a good chance of running in the first five in the 2018 Group 1 $7.3m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.
Vengeur Masque is rated as one of the outsiders of the Melbourne Cup field at $67 at Ladbrokes.com.au but Moroney is happy with the seven year old going into Tuesday’s staying contest.
“I thought he could run top five without any worries,” Moroney told AAP.
“Each Cup is different but if he gets luck in running I’m sure he’s good enough.”
Moroney has stuck with young gun Patrick Moloney to ride Vengeur Masque who has had drawn nicely at barrier two in the twenty-four horse field.
“I’d love to see Vengeur Masque win for him. He deserves it. He’s been a part of the team now for a while,” Moroney said.
Moloney has been aboard Vengeur Masque for his last four starts which includes a fifth two starts back in the Group 3 $300,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 6 followed by a last start ninth in the Group 1 $5m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20.
Moroney will also saddle up German import Sound Check who drew barrier sixteen with Jordan Childs booked to ride.
Sound Check has had one run for Moroney for a twelfth behind Best Solution in the Caulfield Cup and is also one of the outsiders of the Melbourne Cup field at $34.
The Aiden O’Brien trained Yucatan heads the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $6 ahead of English stayer Magic Circle at $8 and the Charlie Appleby trained lightweight Cross Counter at $9.