Lloyd defends Dettori’s Cup ride: ‘I told him to be three-deep.’

LLOYD Williams has defended Frankie Dettori’s Melbourne Cup ride on Almandin, revealing the Italian star rode the defending champion to instructions.

Punters weren’t happy with Frankie Detorri’s ride on Almandin in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

LLOYD Williams has defended Frankie Dettori’s Melbourne Cup ride on Almandin, revealing the Italian star rode the defending champion to instructions.

Dettori remains without victory in Australia’s most important race despite 16 fruitless attempts.

His display on joint favourite Almandin drew withering social media critiques.

Williams, a mentor to one of the sport’s most decorated jockeys, brushed off the barrage.

DETTORI: ‘ALMANDIN WAS FLAT’

FINISHING ORDER: WHERE YOUR HORSE LANDED IN THE CUP

NUMBER ONE: HOW REKINDLING WON THE MELBOURNE CUP

BROWN CRONWS ROUSING REVIVAL

“He rode to instructions. I told him to be three-deep,” Williams said while savouring a record sixth Cup triumph with Rekindling. “But Almandin unfortunately didn’t get cover. He’s drawn 14 and I said to Frankie ‘If you can’t get cover, (but) Kerrin was three-deep on him last year’.

“He rode the horse to instructions.”

Lloyd Williams said he instructed Frankie Dettori to be three-deep on Almandin in the Melbourne Cup.

Williams wanted Almandin to have clear running, confident the 2016 winner had the class to repeat. But he struggled over the closing stages and felt the ground.

Almandin was beaten 11.4 lengths in finishing 12th, with Trakus data revealing the import had travelled 22 metres further in the run than Rekindling.

Converted, Almandin’s beaten margin equates to 27 metres.

Only Single Gaze (24m) and US Army Ranger (29m) covered more ground in finishing 18th and 19th, respectively.

Williams said Almandin had pulled up sore.

“The horse is sore this morning and when Frankie got off him ‘he said this horse is flat, he’s sore’,” Williams said. “He’s not badly sore. Frankie gave him a test at the 600m and there was nothing there. It’s too early to tell you if it (soreness) is serious or not.

“We’ll monitor him over the next 10 days.”

Dettori slammed for Cup ride

FRANKIE Dettori went into the Melbourne Cup with some questioning his efforts Down Under after 15 rides in the race that stops a nation without tasting victory.

With his 16th, on last year’s Cup winner Almandin, he today again failed to fire a shot, and the punters have been savage.

Punters weren’t happy with Frankie Detorri’s ride on Almandin in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

The star Italian jockey stepped in as a late addition to the saddle of last year’s Cup winner Almandin after Damien Oliver was suspended for his ride in the Cox Plate.

Almandin settled midfield, three wide the whole way and looked poised to be in the finish on the turn, but was bumped and then didn’t run on.

Plenty were not happy with Dettori’s ride, but there has been some suggestion the Lloyd Williams stable horse had its tongue over the bit during the race.

Perhaps these punters were among those who smashed Almandin into joint favouritism with Marmelo — who also disappointed — right before the race.

Almandin totally butchered. Dettori should NEVER ride in the cup again, disgraceful piece of riding

— Anthony Giuliano (@anthgiuliano) November 7, 2017

Yet another Frankie Dettori special. Only certain tip all Spring Carnival is to avoid Frankie! #MelbourneCup #almandin #threewide #CBall100 pic.twitter.com/Pv9Wptx9Ir

— Crystal Ball 100 (@cball100) November 7, 2017

I went in to bat for @FrankieDettori all week but that ride on almandin was horrific.

— Rate My Ride (@RateMyRideAus) November 7, 2017

Not sure what's funnier.. me backing big duke ew and running fourth, or frankies ride on Almandin 😂 #melbournecup

— Lachlan Dennis (@lachlan_dennis) November 7, 2017

Frankie has Almandin three-wide without cover the trip

— Tim's Tips (@Tim_Tips) November 7, 2017

Surely it's time to consider a permanent ban for Dettori in Australia. Every Melbourne Cup he knocks half the field over

— Matt (@Mattys123) November 7, 2017

Frankie Dettori picking up where he left off in previous Melbourne cups by leaving Almandin out in the car park

— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) November 7, 2017

Frankie Dettori- probably the most overrated rider in the history of racing!! Cannot ride in Australia #tradielyf #notangryjustdisappointed

— Kyle J Nowland (@kylejnowland) November 7, 2017

Frankie Dettori- probably the most overrated rider in the history of racing!! Cannot ride in Australia #tradielyf #notangryjustdisappointed

— Kyle J Nowland (@kylejnowland) November 7, 2017