BY NICHOLAS GODFREY IN MELBOURNE
Dunaden (yellow) winning the Caulfield Cup last time outPICTURE: AAP Racing, BY NICHOLAS GODFREY IN MELBOURNE6:20AM 4 NOV 2012
Australia: Dunaden’s owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani has dismissed twin worries about weight and a double-figure draw in gate 16 before the six-year-old defends his title in Tuesday’s Emirates Melbourne Cup.
Speaking at the Werribee International Horse Centre on Sunday morning, the Qatari sheikh expressed his confidence that Dunaden would be able to shake off a burdensome top weight of 59kg (9st4lb) in the A$6.2 million (£4m) feature.
“He is a very special horse, one of the best I have seen,” Sheikh Fahad said. “On Tuesday he has some things against him, but I believe he can win, I believe he will win. He deserves the extra weight, he has earned it. The barrier is of no concern at all, he needs cover and he will get it from there.”
Craig Williams is able to ride Dunaden this time, having been forced onto the sidelines by suspension last year, allowing Christophe Lemaire to fly in for the ultimate spare ride, while trainer Mikel Delzangles arrives in Melbourne after tasting Breeders’ Cup success with Flotilla.
“I think when he won the Caulfield Cup he was at about 80 per cent and he’s 100 per cent now, he is doing very well,” added Sheikh Fahad, who is already eyeing next year’s spring carnival.
“Whatever happens on Tuesday, our main target for next year is the Cox Plate,” he said. “Now we’ve managed to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, we want to switch our focus to the Cox Plate.
“We have a couple of horses in mind already for the Cox Plate and I’m confident we could have a runner next year.”
Ante-post favourite Americain still appears to be thriving, according to his attendant Stephanie Nigge, looking after the 2010 Cup winner for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.
“I have never seen a horse like him,” Nigge said. “As soon as he comes here he is more happy, he looks more healthy and he improves a lot. He loves to work and he loves the race.”
Marco Botti has arrived in Melbourne to oversee Jakkalberry’s preparations after he finished down the field in the Caulfield Cup.
“Everything that could have gone wrong in the Caulfield Cup did,” Botti said. “He is much better than he showed there.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be a different horse next week. He’s come out, he’s bouncing and he’s happy so that’s all we want to see.”
4:00 Flemington (AUS), TUE 6 NOV 2012
| NO. DRAW FORM |
HORSE | AGE | WGT OR |
JOCKEY TRAINER RTF% |
TS | RPR | BEST ODDS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116-33261 |  |
DUNADEN
 17 |
6 |
9-4
—
|
125 | 134 | ||
| 212-32664 |  |
AMERICAIN
17 |
7 |
9-2
—
|
68 | 133 | ||
| 319-33510 |  |
JAKKALBERRY t
17
|
6 |
8-10
—
|
122 | 137 | ||
| 418-21233 |  |
RED CADEAUX
117
|
6 |
8-10
—
|
131 | 137 | ||
| 5223-9996 |  |
WINCHESTER b
3
|
7 |
8-10
—
|
— | 132 | ||
| 6133-6240 |  |
VOILA ICI
17
|
7 |
8-9
—
|
— | 133 | ||
| 76271142 |  |
CAVALRYMAN
  40 |
6 |
8-7
—
|
117 | 138 | ||
| 8884-111 |  |
MOUNT ATHOS
80
|
5 |
8-7
—
|
124 | 142 | ||
| 94-60060 |  |
SANAGAS b
17
|
6 |
8-7
—
|
— | 128 | ||
| 1014321764 |  |
ETHIOPIA b
10
|
4 |
8-6
—
|
— | 135 | ||
| 112-62614 |  |
FIORENTE b1
51
|
4 |
8-6
—
|
123 | 142 | ||
| 1211211-11 |  |
GALILEO´S CHOICE
89
|
6 |
8-6
—
|
116 | 133 | ||
| 137-11110 |  |
GLENCADAM GOLD
17 |
4 |
8-6
—
|
— | 130 | ||
| 145-15217 |  |
GREEN MOON
 10 |
5 |
8-6
—
|
— | 137 | ||
| 1598-8025 |  |
MALUCKYDAY p
13 |
6 |
8-6
—
|
— | 134 | ||
| 1633-9421 |  |
MOURAYAN b
31
|
6 |
8-6
—
|
— | 140 | ||
| 171240115 |  |
MY QUEST FOR PEACE
17
|
4 |
8-6
—
|
108 | 137 | ||
| 1815410080 |  |
NIWOT
17 |
8 |
8-6
—
|
— | 134 | ||
| 1921535216 |  |
TAC DE BOISTRON
13 |
5 |
8-6
—
|
115 | 131 | ||
| 2017110933 |  |
LIGHTS OF HEAVEN p
17
|
5 |
8-5
—
|
— | 137 | ||
| 2120741064 |  |
PRECEDENCE
10
|
7 |
8-5
—
|
— | 135 | ||
| 2223089005 |  |
UNUSUAL SUSPECT b
10
|
8 |
8-5
—
|
113 | 125 | ||
| 2324697065 |  |
ZABEELIONAIRE p
3
|
4 |
8-3
—
|
— | 137 | ||
| 2410114121 |  |
KELINNI p
3 |
4 |
8-0
—
|
— | 139 | ||
