Lloyd Williams reveals his late mail for Melbourne Cup is French mare Verema

IF Lloyd Williams's mail is right, then rival French mare Verema is the horse to beat in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington today.

Jonathan Fleutot rides French mare Verema at Werribee. Picture: Getty Images

IF Lloyd Williams's mail is right, then rival French mare Verema is the horse to beat in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington today.

"I was talking to Verema's trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre just six weeks ago and he was telling me this mare was a better chance than Americain,'' Williams said,.

"I don't know if a mare can win first-up. Americain did have a lead-up run in the Geelong Cup.

"But I can tell you De Royer-Dupre is very, very keen on Verema.''

Verema, a $14 chance with TAB Fixed Odds for the Melbourne Cup, won the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville back in August but hasn't raced since.

Americain won the same race to prepare for his down under campaign but De Royer-Dupre did start that stayer in the Geelong Cup before the stayer's 2010 Melbourne Cup triumph.

Verema is the first horse owned by the Aga Khan to race in Australia and his daughter, Princess Zahra, revealed the family has always had ambitions to try and win the Melbourne Cup.

"We've been looking for a runner in this race for a very long time and it was a race that Alain (de Royer Dupre) thought would suit her," Princess Zahra said.

"We are all thrilled to be here, it's a great step for our family. For over 90 years we have had successful breeding operations and runners in Europe and in the States, but to come here is a major step for us.

"It is wonderful. We have a business that has definitely gone global and we are following it.'

"This is a great field so we will see how Verema goes. We're looking forward to the race and hopes she performs well."

De Royer-Dupre said Verema had settled in well at Werribee and was very fresh for the Melbourne Cup.

Jonathan Fleutot rides French mare Verema at Werribee. Picture: Getty Images

"She looks calm but the only question is we are not used to training on the grass and we don't know exactly the condition of the filly,'' De Royer-Dupre said.

"In Europe, we train every day on the sand and one day a week on the grass.

"In this race, the ability of your horse to relax is very important.

"That's the risk, that's why I do more on the track yesterday (with Verema) because I was thinking when I arrived she was a little bit fresh.''

Williams, represented by Green Moon, Sea Moon, Seville, Fawkner, Masked Marvel and Mourayan, said Melbourne Cup history shows it is difficult for the international stayers to win without a lead-up run in Australia.

The only northern hemisphere-trained stayer to win the Melbourne Cup without having a race here previously was Ireland's Vintage Crop in 1993.

But Williams revealed he tried to buy English stayer Brown Panther and is also an admirer of Godolphin's Royal Empire.

"The horse on the way up is Royal Empire,'' Williams said.

"I was in Europe for two months earlier this year and he was the horse I would have liked to have bought for the 2014 Melbourne Cup - but you can't buy off Godolphin.

"He was the pick of the up-and-coming stayers in Europe this year and I think he is a great chance.''

Williams said he made an offer to buy Brown Panther last year.

"I offered pretty, big money for him but I couldn't buy him,'' Williams said.

"His form had been good but he had a little setback before the Irish St Leger. If he is right, then he will be very hard to beat.''