Newcastle stayer Mustajeer will have to break an 82-year hoodoo to win tomorrow’s $7.75m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
And whilst trainer Kris Lees acknowledges the enormity of the task, he is confident the UK import can run boldly.
Michael Rodd, who won the 2007 Cup on Efficient and was pipped on Red Cadeaux by Dunaden four years later in the closest finish in the race's history, rides Mustajeer (55kg) tomorrow.
Only two eight-year-olds have won the famous two-miler since it was first run in 1861. Like Mustajeer, both were geldings.
Toryboy carried only 44.5kg (7st in old terms) in 1865, and Catalogue had 52.5kg (8st.4lbs) in 1938.
Toryboy remarkably ran in five Melbourne Cups, his 1865 success being his third attempt at the great race.
New Zealander Catalogue, after running third in the Hotham Handicap at Flemington, was unofficially prepared by the first woman trainer to win the Melbourne Cup.
The Victoria Racing Club at the time did not accept nominations from a woman trainer, and thus "Granny" McDonald had to transfer the gelding to her husband Allan.
Toryboy and Catalogue were both $26 outsiders, and Mustajeer is also a roughie, currently being listed at $81.
Considering his age, Mustajeer, who won England's major staying event – the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York in August last year – before coming to Australia, has not been over-raced. He lines up for only his 30th start (five wins and eight placings to date) tomorrow, having started only twice as a two-year-old, winning over 1600m at Newmarket in September 2015 at his second start.
Lees is adamant Mustajeer's 2020 prospects should not be judged on his
23rd as a $19 chance to Vow And Declare in last year's Melbourne Cup, after a stout-finishing sixth to Japanese star Mer De Glace in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
"Everybody is forgetting what a torrid run he had in the Melbourne Cup," Lees said this morning.
"You have to completely forget about that.
"Mustajeer raced really well in the autumn, winning the Parramatta Cup (1900m) first-up at Rosehill in February and then finishing second in both the Sky High Stakes (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m) there before his fifth in the Sydney Cup (3200m).
"He has made steady improvement at his last couple of runs this preparation (finishing ninth in The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 3 and eighth to Verry Elleegant in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) a fortnight later).
"From a good draw (barrier 2) tomorrow, Mustajeer should get an economical run.
"He is in great order, and Cameren Swan (stable foreman) and Michael (Rodd) have been very pleased with his work at Sandown in the last week.
"Whilst I realise it won't be easy to win the Cup, I feel he can run boldly and earn some nice prizemoney for his owners.
"Obviously, it would be a tremendous thrill for all concerned if Mustajeer can spring an upset."
