Alma Rise in hunt for Melbourne Cup golden ticket in Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington

Alma Rise may be the least experienced runner in the Melbourne Cup-qualifying Andrew Ramsden Stakes but she is a stayer “on the up”.

Emerging stayer Alma Rise has the talent and motor to make up for any inexperience in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) on Saturday at Flemington.

The Melbourne Cup-qualifying Flemington feature has been a long range target for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained four-year-old Almanzor mare, a four-time winner from 10 starts.

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Alma Rise is $7.50 to win on Saturday behind only seasoned campaigner Athabascan ($4.60), Berkshire Breeze ($5.50) and evergreen Group 1 stayer Smokin’ Romans, the last-start Warrnambool Cup winner.

The top three in the market alone boast a combined 104 career starts.

Alma Rise surged to victory last start in the Echuca Country Oaks (2100m) to lock in Andrew Ramsden ambitions.

“Her whole preparation has been geared towards possibly running in one of these races and getting into the Cup that way,” Coleman said.

“It’s certainly been the idea throughout the whole prep, if her form warranted it, which I think definitely does off that last win.

“She’s definitely the progressive horse in the field, obviously comes up against horses a lot more experienced … but she’s progressive horse and hopefully the horse on the up.”

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Alma Rise placed second in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) last year, at only her third career start.

She returned to Flemington last spring and won a 2000m Benchmark race during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

The Andrew Ramsden has been the goal for Alma Rise if her form warranted it. Picture: Michael Klein

“She’s always given us the impression she’s going to be a really nice mare that will get over ground,” Coleman said.

“We ran her in the St Leger to get a bit of a feel for that and certainly gave us every indication she appreciated it, she ran really well that day for an inexperienced horse.

“We’ve been pretty patient with her, tried to take her through her grades, and ended up here. Hopefully we can see where the story goes next after Saturday.”

Coleman said the rise in distance on Saturday would be ideal.

“She’s a very naturally athletic horse,” Coleman said.

“She’s just got a really good set of lungs and given us a bit of a feel, from what she does at home, she might have that little bit of X-factor.

“Hopefully we get to see that come into play on Saturday.”

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Coleman conceded a genuine rain-affected track would be a disadvantage.

“The one question mark is she doesn’t like really wet ground, she had one run on it at Caulfield and didn’t appreciate it at all,” Coleman said.

“There is rain around Flemington tomorrow but it’s such a well-draining track I don’t foresee us, hopefully not, ending up on too rain-affected ground.”

Coleman has seven starters to saddle on Saturday at Flemington including Codigo in the Listed Straight Six (1200m).

“The key to him is finding a track with the sting out of it,” Coleman said.

“We had him in at Caulfield last week and they upgraded to a Good 3 so we scratched him … if there is a few showers around tomorrow that probably does suit him.

“He’s been racing very well and consistently this preparation, steps up to 1200m the first time this prep but the way he has been racing I don’t see that being too much of an issue for him.

“It is a step up in class but he’s done everything asked of him this preparation, so he deserves a spot tomorrow providing he gets suitable track conditions.”

Originally published as Alma Rise in hunt for Melbourne Cup golden ticket in Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington