My early Melbourne Cup tip, back in July, who has not run since a good win in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes in August. I still remember seeing him win first up at Newmarket while I was in a Singapore bar with Racing Victoria’s international scout Leigh Jordon. He declared then he was a live Melbourne Cup hope, and most of us were scoffing. But after he beat subsequent Doncaster Cup runner up High Jinx by four lengths at York in July, he looked every bit a likely Melbourne Cup type. He then won the Geoffrey Freer, once again by a big margin, to book his trip to Melbourne.

He’s only had those three starts for Luca Cumani, having been trained by David Wachmann previously. Under Wachmann, he ran eighth in last year’s Ebor Handicap before finishing fourth in the Cesarewitch. In recent years, those who have finished behind the placegetters in the Cesarewitch have done well in the Melbourne Cup – Red Cadeaux the most notable example. Owner Dr Marwan Koukash had Munsef run 12th in 2009 behind Shocking, and he decided then that he wanted to win the Melbourne Cup. And we all know how close Luca Cumani has gone to winning the Melbourne Cup in the past. I feel they both have a tremendous chance of winning this race with this horse.

He has a tremendous turn of foot and he won’t know himself with 54.5kg. Big chance.

$1400 IN FREE BETS on MOUNT ATHOS

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Breeding: Montjeu x Ionian Sea

Bred in: Ireland
Nationality: United Kingdom
Trainer: Luca Cumani
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Weight: 54kg
Career Stats: 20:7-0-1
Last 5 Starts: 84×111
Biggest Win: Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1m 5f/a2700m), Newbury (United Kingdom), 18/9/2012
Age: 6
Sportsbet Fixed Odds (as at 7pm, Sunday November 4): $7.00