Munsef up for Melbourne Cup

Published on Sunday 1 November 2009 22:40

IAN Williams would not swap Munsef for any other runner in tomorrow's Melbourne Cup.

The Worcestershire trainer arrived in Melbourne only days ago to oversee final preparations of the eight-year-old, who has commanded little local interest and is currently available at 40-1 with local bookmakers.

But Williams said Munsef – ridden by Australian jockey Zac Purton and drawn ideally in barrier five in the 24-horse field – was a legitimate contender to win the Melbourne Cup. "Munsef is 110 per cent, I wouldn't swap him for any other runner," said Williams.

With the only European-based trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, Dermot Weld, without a runner this year, and with Godolphin and Luca Cumani forced to start with their second-string contenders, most Australians are overlooking the foreign raiders.

Instead the build-up has centred on Australia's legendary trainer Bart Cummings' bid to win a record 13th Melbourne Cup with either last year's winner Viewed or recent Caulfield Cup runner-up Roman Emperor.

Then there is the fairytale runner in this year's Cup in exciting South Australian galloper Alco-pop, who is trained in the bush by little-known trainer Jake Stephens and will be ridden by Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur.

Godolphin's only runner is Crime Scene after Kirklees was scratched, while Cumani is left with only Basaltico after Cima De Triomphe disappointed in both his starts Down Under.

Two other European contenders, in Changingoftheguard and Warringah, have just been transferred to Australian trainers David Hayes and Chris Waller.