While Mark Johnston’s Jukebox Jury is amongst the favourites for this year’s $6.2 million Melbourne Cup, the trainer is asking the public not to discount his other runner Fox Hunt.
Fox Hunt won his last start in the Group 3 Deutsches St. Leger last month and currently sits safely at number 15 on the Cup’s ballot order.
“He’ll be well suited to the Melbourne Cup,” Johnston said.
“He tends to have a flat spot in the middle of the race and a great burst of speed (at the end).”
Johnston insisted he was not going into the Melbourne Cup with a race plan.
“I’m not one for the elaborate tactics you have in Australia,” he said.
“With both horse we’re going to be trying to get a good position up the front, but I’m well aware things don’t always go to plan.”
Fox Hunt began his current preparation in February this year and Tuesday’s Cup will be the 12th run of his campaign.
“The one question about my horses… is that we tend to run our horses hard through the British season and that’s maybe not ideal,” the trainer said.
Despite those queries, Johnston would not be surprised if the little known Fox Hunt out-classed his highly rated stablemate Jukebox Jury in the run.
“I think Fox Hunt is the perfect type horse for the Melbourne Cup,” Johnston said.
