Mount Athos may have a bigger profile in the Melbourne Cup 2012 field but trainer Luca Cumani has warned not to rule out his second contender My Quest For Peace.
Mount Athos is rated an $8.50 chance to win the 2012 Melbourne Cup but the high profile international trainer thinks his $26 runner My Quest For Peace is also a genuine chance.
“Both my horses are very well,” Cumani said.
“I think Mount Athos should be a little bit longer [than he is] and My Quest For Peace a little bit shorter.”
The pair are two of many international contenders in the field for Tuesday’s $6 million staying test which is headed in the bookmaker.com.au market by Americain and Dunaden.
Americain is a $5 favourite after drawing favourably in barrier 12 while Dunaden ($6.50) will be out to defend his title from barrier 16.
Americain part-owner Gerry Ryan is confident the favourite heads into the race in excellent condition but admits he comes up against a hot field.
“We’re going to be very competitive,” Ryan said.
“The horse can run in any condition, he proved that at Caulfield so let’s give it our best shot.
“This year’s field is the best he’s ever run in, we need to have every one percent up our sleeves as the one percents make 100 percent.”
Also featuring towards the top end of the market is Red Cadeaux who is $10 to go one better than the second he produced last year.
Trainer Ed Dunlop will again send the British gelding into the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up and is confident that will allow him to perform his best.
“He runs very well fresh, my team have done a great job, he’s a horse in the past that proven that he’s runs well first time out,” Dunlop said.
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