Irish duo visit Flemington before Melbourne Cup

Two of Irish trainer Willie Mullins’ three Melbourne Cup hopes have had a change of scenery with a visit to Flemington.

Dave Casey, Mullins’ travelling foreman, took Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson to the Melbourne Cup track on Tuesday while Wicklow Brave stayed at the Werribee compound.

The 2015 Cup runner-up Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson worked separately with each ridden by Casey.

“The ground was in great condition,” Casey said.

“They went separately because we wanted Max to do a bit more than Thomas.

“Thomas has been running all season whereas Max hasn’t been so he just needed a blow-out.

“They seem really well and are in great condition.”

Casey has been overseeing the preparations of all three horses.

He arrived in late September with the first shipment to enter quarantine at Werribee and watched Wicklow Brave run an unlucky 12th behind Boom Time in the Caulfield Cup.

“Wicklow Brave only ran ten days ago and he didn’t need to go over to Flemington,” Casey said.

“He’s been a bit of a handful recently which is good signs for him.

“His head is in the right spot and he’s enjoying himself.

“He had a little blow this morning so we’ll keep him ticking over.”

Thomas Hobson is in danger of missing the Cup being number 26 in the order of entry for the 24-horse field.

Hong Kong jockeys Joao Moreira and Zac Purton have been booked to ride Thomas Hobson and Max Dynamite respectively with a rider still to finalised for Wicklow Brave.

Casey said if Thomas Hobson failed to gain a start then Moreira would switch to Max Dynamite and Purton would ride Wicklow Brave.

He said if Thomas Hobson misses the Cup he could start in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on November 11.