Matthew Smith will break new ground after 20 years as a trainer when he saddles his first Melbourne Cup runner.
Eight-year-old gelding True Marvel will be Smith’s long-awaited debut in Australia’s great race at Flemington on Tuesday.
The French-bred galloper may not be the best credentialled galloper in Tuesday’s 3200m contest, but Smith knows one thing, True Marvel will relish the distance.
“It’s taken a while to get my first Cup runner, but I’ve probably only had one or two nominations over the course,” Smith said.
“I had Attorney, he would have got in the Cup last year, but he went lame after the Geelong Cup and was retired.
“So, it’s great to finally get a runner, for the owners, for the stable and for me it’s a big thrill to have a runner in the race.
“You want to run in these big races, the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate, but it’s hard to get the right horse, that’s the first thing, but True Marvel, he’ll run the trip,
“His run at Moonee Valley last time was good, his sectionals were as good as the winner.
“He’ll be grinding away and hopefully he can finish in the top ten.”
True Marvel almost caused a boilover as a $151 chance in the Sydney Cup (3200m) earlier in the year and two starts later was seen over hurdles winning at Hamilton.
After that Hamilton success, True Marvel ran third in the Brisbane Cup (3200m) before a break.
After three runs in Sydney, True Marvel made his way to Melbourne where he finished tenth in the Moonee Valley Cup.
Smith has engaged former Melbourne jockey Ben Thompson for the ride.
Thompson currently sits second on the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership and is a natural lightweight who can ride at 50kg.
“It was hard to find a jockey, especially at the weight and when he (the horse) was around that 23, 24, 25 mark,” Smith said.
“We’re really happy with Ben. He’s a natural lightweight rider, he’s riding very well, and you want someone on the horse who wants to ride the hose and he was keen to ride him.”
True Marvel is a $151 shot with online betting sites to win the Melbourne Cup.
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