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Miami Bound and Salto Angel set to line up in Andrew Ramsden

The Danny O’Brien-trained duo Miami Bound (Reliable Man) and Salto Angel (Sacred Falls) will be after a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) when they line up in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (Listed, 2800m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The 2019 VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Miami Bound ran 14th in last year's Melbourne Cup having secured her place in the race winning the Moonee Valley Cup (Gr 2, 2500m) at her previous start. 

Miami Bound finished third in the Tancred Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m) at Rosehill on March 27 before occupying that same position in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Randwick on her most recent appearance on April 17. 

"Her runs in Sydney were good and the four weeks between runs is perfect," O'Brien said. 

"She's been back down at Thirteenth Beach since Sydney and came up to Flemington to have a jump-out last Friday for a bit of a gallop and she couldn't be better." 

While Miami Bound has won five of her 21 starts, Salto Angel has yet to breakthrough in 11 starts.

However, she is a six-time runner-up, including last year's VRC Oaks and at her most recent outing behind Through Irish Eyes (Tavistock), who she clashes with again on Saturday, in the VRC St Leger (Listed, 2800m) on April 25. 

"She's a genuine mile-and-a-half filly and there are not a lot of options for her," O'Brien said. 

"Her run in the St Leger was good and I feel it's the right time to try a three-year-old against the older horses with the good weight relief. 

"We haven't had to do too much with her having had that run three weeks ago over the same course and distance."