The retirement of Efficient has left a hole in Lloyd Williams’ stable but the leviathan owner still has the Melbourne Cup in his sights with Mourayan staking his claim in Sydney and Tanby winning in Melbourne on Saturday.
Mourayan, the $2.50 favourite, held off a challenge from Western Symbol ($5.50) to win Saturday’s Group Three Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick just 20 minutes before Tanby won the Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.
Mourayan winning the Craven Plate impressively - Photo by Steve Hart
The Bart Cummings was won last year by Mourayan and is the only other race he has won in Australia since being imported from Europe.
Hugh Bowman has been aboard for both wins and was thrilled with the horse’s effort.
“I know him well and it’s great to win on him,” Bowman said.
“It’s onwards and upwards from here.
“He could be my Melbourne Cup ride. My options are thin on the ground.”
Mourayan has 53.5kg in the Cup and a penalty would help the heavyweight rider’s cause.
Gai Waterhouse said the runner-up would head to the City Tattersall’s Cup, a target also for third-placed Dare To Dream, an imported galloper trained by Bart Cummings.
Dare To Dream ($10) made an eye-catching run to finish a long head behind Western Symbol after getting held up in the straight.
“The Tattersall’s Cup is an option for him,” Cummings said.
“He needs to qualify for the Melbourne Cup.”
Cummings has used the Listed City Tattersall’s Cup as a stepping stone in the past to get horses into the Cup which he has won 12 times.
