Seventh heaven: Lloyd Williams aims for record Cup assault

OWNER Lloyd Williams could have an unprecedented seven starters in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup next month.

The Lloyd Williams-trained Fawkner, with Nicholas Hall on-board, wins the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Jay Town

OWNER Lloyd Williams could have an unprecedented seven starters in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup next month.

Williams confirmed yesterday Green Moon, Seville and Masked Marvel, will go straight to the Melbourne Cup after they contest the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Tanby was scratched from yesterday's Geelong Cup due to the heavy track but is likely to contest the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Saturday or the Bendigo Cup next Wednesday.

Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner will have his final Melbourne Cup lead-in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day while Herbert Power Stakes winner Sea Moon runs in the Lexus Stakes the same day.

Sydney Cup winner Mourayan will go straight into the Melbourne Cup without another run, Williams confirmed.

Williams, who has already won four Melbourne Cups with Just A Dash (1982), What A Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007) and Green Moon (2012), said if all his stayers are fit and well they will line up in the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday in November.

The latest Melbourne Cup order of entry shows that Fawkner (first), Green Moon (third), Sea Moon (sixth), Mourayan (20th) and Seville (22nd) are already assured of starts while Masked Marvel (27th) and Tanby (31st) are almost certain to make the cut for the 24-horse field.

The Lloyd Williams-trained Fawkner, with Nicholas Hall on-board, wins the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Jay Town

The TAB obviously think Williams will have a strong Cup hand, framing a series of Team Williams markets.

"Lloyd Williams achieved a career highlight when Fawkner won his first Caulfield Cup last Saturday and it is now a matter of whether or not he can add to his tally in the big three of the spring," the TAB's Glen Munsie said.

"He will start three runners in Saturday's Cox Plate (Green Moon, Masked Marvel and Seville) and still has at least six horses that could line up in the Melbourne Cup.

"TAB customers have the opportunity to bet on how many of the big three Team Williams will win as well as a Melbourne Cup Team Williams v The Field option."

How many majors will Team Williams win?

$1.50 One exactly

$2.70 Two exactly

$21 Three

*Races includes: Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup - Team Williams v Field

$4 Team Williams

$1.25 Field

*Team Williams includes: Sea Moon $14, Fawkner $15, Masked Marvel $21, Seville $21, and Green Moon $26

Melbourne Cup - US v THEM

$1.45 Australian-trained horses

$2.60 International-trained horses