Information can often come at a trickle, but every skerrick from Lloyd counts

THE information doesn’t come thick and fast from Lloyd Williams about his horses. But the message — often via text, occasionally a phone call — is always insightful.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — NOVEMBER 01: Kerrin McEvoy riding Almandin defeats Joao Moreira riding Heartbreak City to win Race 7, the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 1, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

ONE of racing’s great success stories, and great curiosities, is Team Williams.

Lloyd, of course, is one of the sport’s legends. His five Melbourne Cups, the glorious, indulgent burning of so many millions to win just one race as often as he can, is folk lore.

His self-mocking has always been a nice counterbalance to the elite privilege of his lifelong passion.

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I need a shrink, he often says — and so does my accountant.

Williams is both forthcoming and elusive.

Kerrin McEvoy and Almandin (red cap) edge out Joao Moreira and Heartbreak City to win last year’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Information on his horses, their wellbeing and the tactics, is always detailed and helpful, but usually delivered by text or via the stewards’ Twitter handle.

Phone calls are not rare but they’re occasional. Winter is off limits as Williams seeks a warmer climate.

I got a return call on Friday, which was a mild surprise and helpful.

Lloyd Williams holds Melbourne Cup No. 5 after Almandin won our most famous race.

Hans Holbein is fit, he said — about as fit as Aloft was when he won first-up over 2000m at Flemington recently.

Almandin is fit, but a bit of a guess.

“His Melbourne Cup campaign was his first full campaign with us and we wanted to give him a nice break,’’ Williams said. “He might win, run fourth or run seventh. But he’s going OK.’’

The RV stewards’ Twitter feed — the usual off-season source of Team Williams info — confirm that Hans Holbein will be ridden aggressively in Saturday’s MSC Signs Handicap at Moonee Valley and Almandin will be ridden quiet.

There are no real surprises there, particularly with Almandin, but the information helps create a more clear picture of the race.

Hans Holbein is obviously fit even though he is first-up since April.

Williams is continuing to learn more about his swarms of imports.

It seems as though more of them are being ridden more aggressively than a decade ago, even if they’re first-up.

Most of these horses are natural, relentless-running style stayers without a turn of foot. Controlling the speed, backing their stamina, is the best way to ride them.

Williams’ son Nick said recently that the stable attempts to get most of these horses fit in training, not necessarily via racing.

He said they get ‘em fit and keep ‘em that way.

There’s a steep hill at Mt Macedon which is hell’s highway for horses. That’s where Williams gets these Melbourne Cup aspirants fit. The ones that don’t make it — don’t make it.

Little White Cloud galloped up Hell’s Highway countless times before winning over 2000m during Cup Week last year. He hadn’t raced for over three years.

Aloft won over 2000m at Flemington at his first run since April and Kilimanjaro was a strong placegetter first-up over 2000m after a long lay-off.

So Hans Holbein’s gut won’t be dragging on the ground as he parades with Almandin on Saturday.

Almandin has a pick next to his greatest achievement at Macedon Lodge. Picture: Ian Currie

Almandin is the most interesting horse running anywhere on the day.

He won last year’s Melbourne Cup as a perfectly-prepared, well weighted import. He will have a stack more weight this year and Cup history says only the greats go back-to-back.

Williams is under no illusions about the challenge facing Almandin and probably has a half dozen or so he regards as better Melbourne Cup chances this year.

If Almandin can pull it off and become Lloyd’s sixth Melbourne Cup winner, it will be his greatest feat as a very hands-on owner.

WHAT I’M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ON SATURDAY …

1) ALMANDIN — The defence begins.

2) TULIP versus Limestone, Ramooz and Garrard. Which one has come on?

3) PARIAH in Sydney. The latest gun Snowden colt resumes.