Doomben Cup on the agenda for Melbourne Cup winner Almandin

Melbourne Cup winner Almandin will have a good spell before being set for the Group 1 $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival next May.

Melbourne Cup winner Almandin, above, will be set for the Doomben Cup during the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Melbourne Cup winner Almandin, above, will be set for the Doomben Cup during the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winning part owner Lloyd Williams said that Almandin had lost a few kilos after his gallant win in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last Tuesday when he outstayed Heartbreak City and will be given plenty of time to recuperate.

“I would like to take (Almandin) to a shorter race somewhere. Might take him up to the Doomben Cup or something like that at set weights,” Williams told RSN’s Racing Ahead.

“He’s lost a bit of weight, but he’s not bad. He looks well. No problems with his legs.”

Almandin was purchased by Williams from Germany in mid 2014 but was off the scene for two years after injuring a tendon before having his first start in Australia for a sixth in a 1600m Handicap ay Moonee Valley in June 2016.

The German import had a trouble free Spring Carnival campaign and earned a start in the Melbourne Cup with a win in the Group 3 $300,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 2 which was his last lead up run before claiming the most coveted prize on the Australian Racing Calendar.

Williams said that it will be hard for Almandin to back up next year in the Melbourne Cup and that is why he will probably keep the gelding to shorter weight for age races next campaign.

“Sometimes they come back, but it’s pretty hard. I think we probably need fresh blood,” Williams said.

Almandin was one of four runners Williams had an interest in in this year’s Melbourne Cup with the winner’s stablemates Assign and Gallante finishing nineteenth and twentieth while the Aidan O’Brien trained Bondi Beach was thirteenth across the line.

Williams reported that Bondi Beach had pulled up a bit sore after the race but his other runners were problem free.

“Bondi Beach is pretty sore. That’s about the only one we have any problem with,” Williams said.

Almandin’s win was the fifth time Williams has been to the Melbourne Cup winner’s stall following the wins of Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007) and Green Moon in 2012.

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.