Hugh Bowman has reunited with Marmelo in a track gallop at Werribee as the international raider prepares for another Melbourne Cup start.
Bowman rode Marmelo last spring when sixth in the Caulfield Cup before finishing ninth in the Melbourne Cup.
Bowman sees a stronger version of Marmelo this year and said the stayer was moving nicely in his quest for the $7 million race at Flemington on November 6.
Marmelo galloped with fellow Melbourne Cup hope Magic Circle who was partnered by race jockey Corey Brown.
“We went to the line with plenty in hand and he seems to have travelled over well and feels good,” Bowman said.
Bowman is yet to commit to Marmelo, saying the Chris Waller-trained Finche remained a possibility.
He rode The Cliffsofmoher when the Irish stayer ran third in the Caulfield Cup.
“There’s a little water to still go under the bridge. We’ll canvas our options and see what he come up with,” Bowman said.
Brown partnered Magic Circle for the first time on Wednesday morning and said it was important to get an understanding of the stayer.
“I was pretty keen to get out here and get to know the horse,” Brown said on Wednesday.
“It wasn’t a hard ride by any means but it was good to get out here and get a feel of him before getting on him under race conditions.”
The Melbourne Cup 2018 campaign of Cross Counter is back on track after a gallop at Werribee.
Early last week Cross Counter cut a foreleg that required stitches and anti-biotics restricting him to box rest for two days.
“He tack walked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, trotted on the synthetic track Saturday and Sunday and cantered Monday and Tuesday and had a little gallop today,” trainer Charlie Appleby’s travelling foreman Chris Connett said.
“He came out with residual fitness under him and hopefully he should be right.”
