Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams says Caulfield Cup runner-up Green Moon is capable of an upset when he resumes in the Group Three Carlyon Cup at Caulfield.
The five-year-old has been heavily backed with TAB Sportsbet from $18 to $10 for Saturday’s 1600-metre event and Williams believes he can live up to the support.
“I think he will run well,” Williams told Radio Sport National.
“He wouldn’t shock me at all in a mile race like that (the Carlyon Cup).
“On face value you would probably say it was too short for him but he is in very good order and I’m very pleased with what he has done to date.”
An imported stayer, Green Moon raced six times in the spring and quickly made an impression.
At his third run he finished second to subsequent Turnbull Stakes winner December Draw and then won the Newcastle Cup before an eye-catching second to Southern Speed in the Caulfield Cup.
Melbourne Cup plans were scrapped after he led and pulled up with the thumps in the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day.
Next month’s Australian Cup (2000m) is among the autumn options for Green Moon who will be ridden by Steven King on Saturday.
Trainer Peter Moody has four Carlyon Cup runners and has been pleased with the improvement in Manighar who, having his first start for him, is a significant shortener from $17 to $11.
“He is going tremendous,” Moody said.
“Early in his prep he was very dour but the last few weeks he has started showing us a little turn of foot.
“I presume he will be back in the ruck a bit but if he runs up to his work I would think he would run well at the mile and be very strong late.”
Formerly trained by Luca Cumani, Manighar finished fourth in the Caulfield Cup and fifth in the Melbourne Cup before his last-start second to Americain in the Sandown Classic on November 12.
Luke Nolen will ride Manighar while stablemates Shout Out Loud ($7), King Diamond ($41) and Macedonian ($81) will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn, Danny Nikolic and Jason Benbow respectively.
AAP TURF
