Lloyd Williams team denied second Caulfield Cup

Lloyd Williams will be out for revenge after being denied a second Caulfield Cup with Homesman beaten narrowly in a spirited finish.

Fawkner in 2013 has been the only winner for Williams and son Nick Williams in the Caulfield Cup.

The Williams team had three runners line-up in Saturday’s 2400m Group One handicap that returned the owners second, third and fifth placings.

A half-head separated the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Best Solution and Homesman (Ben Melham) with The Cliffsofmoher (Hugh Bowman) third and The Taj Mahal (James McDonald) in fifth place.

Nick Williams lamented the positioning of the winning post.

“Unfortunately the post wasn’t a stride before or a stride later, but that’s the way it goes,” Williams said.

“Congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed and his team. They put a lot of money into their racing all around the world and it’s fantastic they’ve won a big race.

“That’s the way racing goes but what we can be grateful for is all our horses ran really good races.

“They got good rides from their jockeys and Saeed’s horse was too good for us on the day.”

Williams said Homesman’s second placing qualifies the stayer for the Melbourne Cup adding that was one of option to be considered by the team.

He said next week’s Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival may also come under consideration.

The slow pace in the middle stages also proved disadvantageous for the Williams team.

“It certainly didn’t suit The Taj Mahal,” Williams said.

“James elected to go back on him early and they ran slow fractions early in the race which made it pretty hard.

“He made an early move and still ran very, very well and it was probably a good Melbourne Cup trial.

“Hugh was a little disappointed on The Cliffsofmoher.

“At the top of the straight he thought he was going to win but it didn’t pan out that way.”