Macedon Lodge stayers Homesman and Almandin have stamped themselves as horses to follow through the 2018 Autumn Carnival by completing an impressive quinella in this afternoon’s Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) at Caulfield.
Prominent owner Nick Williams kept his cards close to his chest prior to the Mornington Cup Prelude when he revealed that he was not sure either horse were in the right condition to win first-up.
Jumping from the gates well, both horses were led to positions close to the speed as Homesman traded blows with Cismontaine at the head of the pack, while Almandin took a sit just behind the pacesetters.
Enjoying a pretty easy run in transit, Homesman skipped clear of his rivals as the field straightened and opened a gap of two lengths with 300m to travel. When joined at the lead by his stable mate, the classy import was actually headed in the final 100m, but produced a strong kick to win the Mornington Cup Prelude on the line.
Ben Melham delivered a perfectly-timed ride aboard Homesman to win the Mornington Cup Prelude and was thrilled with what the horse was able to produce in his first ever Australian race.
“It’s a credit to the horse, he’s lovely and I’ve had a bit to do with him,” Melham said after the race.
“Different horse with blinkers – the two months of work I’ve done with him have been without blinkers and it really switched him on.
“He was still a bit wayward in the straight, wanted to run around a little bit and I just wanted to keep him off the rail a little bit, but it was a tremendous effort to hold off a class horse like Almandin.”
Williams was thrilled with the performance of both horses and revealed that Homesman’s win may have booked him a position alongside Almandin in the field for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in a fortnight.
“Couldn’t be happier – both jockeys gave them great rides and the horses both went particularly well I thought first-up,” Williams said.
“Almandin’s condition and the weight probably told on him a little in the end, but Homesman was able to just kick back and nose him out on the line.
“Obviously for it being Homesman’s first run here, it’s very, very exciting. We might have to think about where he goes next, maybe he might join Almandin in the Australian Cup.
“We’ll just wait and see on that, but we think they’ve both got plenty of improvement in them so today has been a great kick-off for them.”
Almandin was a $15 shot in our Australian Cup market prior to this afternoon’s second-placing and has subsequently firmed into $10, while Homesman has entered the market tied on the fourth line with his stable mate.