Melbourne Cup 2017: Thriving Marmelo on track for history

HUGHIE Morrison is banking on Marmelo’s versatility and Hugh Bowman’s confidence as he bids to become the first English trainer to win the Melbourne Cup.

HUGHIE Morrison is banking on Marmelo’s versatility and Hugh Bowman’s confidence as he bids to become the first English trainer to win the Melbourne Cup.

If successful, Morrison would surpass Ed Dunlop, who was second three times with Red Cadeaux, and Newmarket’s Saeed bin Suroor, who produced runners-up Central Park, Give The Slip and Crime Scene.

With stables west of London at Newbury, Morrison has prepared almost 800 winners in a 21-year career and, after Marmelo’s slashing Caulfield Cup sixth, heads to Flemington with a winning chance.

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Asked about Bowman’s post-Caulfield Cup feedback, Morrison said: “He’s incredibly positive about the horse. I spoke to him before and after he worked him and again after the race. He’s very happy.”

Morrison said Marmelo, winner of the Prix Kergorlay, has adapted well to his new surroundings and was thriving.

“The way he ran at Caulfield the other day made one feel he’d settled in well,” he said. “You never know how the second run is going to turn out.

Marmelo has thrived since his fast-finishing sixth in the Caulfield Cup.

“We’ll just probably tick him over until the race. Everything is great here, everybody is incredibly helpful, couldn’t be happier really.”

Morrison said he was in two minds about giving Marmelo a start before the Cup, but now believes the value of race-day experience outweighs the negatives.

“The nature of how you run races here, going around a bend, that will be the advantage of running (at Caulfield),” he said. “The disadvantage is taking the edge off him by running.

“We’ll only find out when we run next week.

“I think the way you run your races here it’s important. You go fast, steady, fast and over two miles (3200m) that should suit as well.

“I think he relaxes quite well. He can win from the front or from behind. He won from the front in the Kergorlay and won from behind previously.

Marmelo is following a similar path to previous Cup winners Americain and Protectionist.

“We just want a bit of luck, a reasonable draw and have a bit of fun.”

The Kergorlay form reference to the Melbourne Cup remains potent. Americain (2010) and Protectionist (2014) both won the 3000m Group 2 at Deauville before triumphing at Flemington.

Dunaden failed in the 2011 Kergorlay, finishing ninth and puzzling connections but regrouped to win the Geelong Cup before claiming the Melbourne Cup in a close finish over Red Cadeaux.

Marmelo controlled this year’s Kergorlay, leading most of the way, with one-time Cup favourite Red Cardinal fifth.

Bowman told Morrison after the Caulfield Cup that Marmelo was spot on for Flemington.

He is TAB $9 third favourite behind Almandin ($7) and Humidor ($8).