Nick Williams is dreaming of a Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate sweep

NICK Williams dares to dream — and he’s dreaming of a Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup this spring.

Nick Williams

NICK Williams dares to dream — and he’s dreaming of a Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup this spring.

The son of leviathan owner Lloyd believes the camp can win its first Caulfield Cup and first Cox Plate, as well as adding a fifth Melbourne Cup.

The weekend Group 1 racing at Flemington and Randwick gave Williams heart that the team’s host of imports could figure in the three majors.

Masked Marvel

“Fawkner’s third in the Turnbull Stakes was absolutely outstanding,’’ he said.

"He drops in weight (from 55.5kg to 53.5kg) and if he draws a barrier he will be hard to beat (in the Caulfield Cup).

“We have run second with Nayrizi (1989) and Green Moon (2011) and I think Fawkner is our best chance.

“He is a better chance in my opinion than Masked Marvel, who will be better suited over the Melbourne Cup trip.”

Masked Marvel was beaten a short neck by Honorius in Saturday’s Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick and Williams said he would run in either the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.

“He is pretty handy and he’ll be a different horse over the Melbourne Cup trip,” ­Williams said.

He was also excited about Seville, who was beaten a long neck by Green Moon in last year’s Turnbull before injury ended his Cups campaign while Green Moon went on to win the Melbourne Cup.

Seville showed he was back to his best with victory in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“He is pretty good. He was strong to the line and really wanted to win. We will freshen him up and see if he is another Saintly,” Williams said.

The Champion Bart Cummings galloper Saintly was third in the 1996 Metropolitan before winning the Cox Plate next start, and the Melbourne Cup the start after that.

“He is the type of galloper who can win a Cox Plate. He has a long sprint, and fresh I think he would perform well,” Williams said.

The Williams also has failed to put a Cox Plate in the trophy cabinet. Grand campaigner Zipping finished second in 2008 and 2010, with a third sandwiched in between. Mahogany conceded 10.5kg to Octagonal when beaten a half neck in 1995.

He said Green Moon, who did not race on Saturday, would go for back-to-back Melbourne Cups, while Mourayan, winner of the Sydney Cup in April and eighth in the Metropolitan, would head to the Moonee Valley Cup on his way to the Melbourne Cup.

“Mourayan and Tanby, who ran in the Turnbull, needed the hitout at the weekend. They will benefit greatly from their runs,” Williams said.

“Tanby is on track for the Melbourne Cup, but we are not sure yet where we will go with Sea Moon.

“He gained some confidence by being first past the post in the Bart Cummings on Saturday, but we’ll see how he works and decide his immediate future in the days ahead.”

The Williams camp will be looking to add to the Melbourne Cups already won by Green Moon last year, Efficient in 2007, What A Nuisance in 1985 and Just A Dash in 1981.

“It never gets any easier, but you have to dream,” Williams said.