The Aidan O’Brien trained Irish stayer Bondi Beach is shaping up for his second attempt at winning the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington today and his Australian owner Lloyd Williams rates him a better stayer than this year.

Bondi Beach, above, is lining up for his second Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The lightly raced Bondi Beach was only beaten just over six length when sixteen to the Darren Weir trained Prince Of Penzance last year but has won twice and been placed on two occasions in Ireland since.

“Aidan is pretty happy with the horse at Werribee. He was an immature three-year-old last year. It was my idea to bring him out last year, and probably it was the wrong idea,” Williams told racing.com.

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Ryan Moore takes the ride on Bondi Beach and expects the Galileo stallion to be more seasoned and cope better with his second trip to Australia.

‘’He’s been trained for the race. Everyone seems very happy with him. He’s in good shape. The trip shouldn’t be a problem. He’s had experience coming here before and that will hold him in good stead,” Moore said.

At his first start in Ireland after running in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, Bondi Beach won the Listed €47,000 Martin Molony Stakes (2514m) at Limerick on April 23 and then made it two wins on the trot with a victory in the in the Group 3 €65,000 Vintage Crop Stakes (2816m) at Navan on May 15.

Bondi Beach then resumed after a short break to run third in the Group 3 €63,001 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown on August 4 followed by a third in the Group 3 €99,999 Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown again on September 10.

Bondi Beach is among the top fancies in the Melbourne Cup market order at $10 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind the John O’Shea trained Hartnell at $6, Caulfield Cup winner Jameka at $8.50 and Lexus Stakes winner Oceanographer at $9.