Jockey Ben Melham will be putting his hand up to ride whichever horse Mark Zahra rejects in the Melbourne Cup.
Ben Melham rode the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Gold Trip into third place in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday and would like to keep the ride in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
Zahra rode Gold Trip to victory in last year’s Melbourne Cup and ‘got off’ the stayer to ride Without A Fight to victory in the Caulfield Cup.
Without A Fight has 55.5kg in the Melbourne Cup but is liable for a re-handicap, while Gold Trip will carry the topweight of 58.5kg.
Melham was delighted with Gold Trip’s performance, providing the jockey with his fifth placing in the Caulfield Cup.
“That’s very frustrating, but anyway the horse had his chance and there’s not much you can do about that,” Melham said.
“The pace they went made him carry his weight, giving four or five kilos to quality horses which was probably the telling factor at the finish.
“I know who I would be liking to ride in the race.”
Melham said he could feel the difference in Gold Trip from when he first sat aboard the stayer ahead of the Cox Plate two years ago.
“He’s a healthy happy horse,” Melham said.
“He’s thriving, in the right yard and won’t be going backwards off the back of that.”
