HOPES FOR a third Irish Melbourne Cup success in the early hours of Tuesday morning appear to be increasing Down Under but before that the man who knows better than anyone what it takes to win at Flemington can make his presence felt at Leopardstown tomorrow.
It is 15 years since Michael Kinane guided Vintage Crop to that historic first Melbourne triumph and there will be no more interested observer of what happens in Australia as Septimus continues to impress in his preparation.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained star teamed up with his big-race partner Johnny Murtagh for a work-out alongside Alessandro Volta and Honolulu at Sandown Park yesterday and pleased the Ballydoyle team. "He feels at the same level he has been during the season," Murtagh reported. "I was very happy with how he pulled up. He had a nice blow but blew off quickly."
Dermot Weld described Ireland's other hope Profound Beauty as a "forgotten horse" as the Curragh trainer attempts to follow up on Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle's Flemington victories.
"I'd say she is not as good as Vinnie Roe or Vintage Crop who probably should have won twice," Weld said on arrival in Australia. "But this is a handicap and she is down the weights. If she goes the distance she will represent us well."
Kinane's own Southern Hemisphere ambitions centre this time on South Africa towards the end of this month. He is due to appear in a jockeys' challenge at Turffontein on November 29th when his international team colleagues against the home side will include Frankie Dettori and Christophe Soumillon.
That commitment will allow Fran Berry to avail of more John Oxx-trained horses as he continues his pursuit of Pat Smullen in the title race on Dundalk's all-weather. But for the last turf day of 2008 on the flat Kinane is on duty at Leopardstown and can land the Eyrefield Stakes on Mourayan.
The nine-furlong Listed event has thrown up classic winners Vinnie Roe (2000) and Yesterday (2002) this decade, as well as Alessandro Volta last year, and victory for Mourayan would be a form boost for his Beresford Stakes winning stable companion Sea The Stars.
The English horse Al Qasi is Kinane's hope in the Knockaire Stakes but the 110-rated Almass has been in rare form recently and will be hard to beat.
The season finale handicap highlight is the Leopardstown November and a competitive field of 20 line up this time. Sesenta will have her followers as Danny Mullins attempt to win for his uncle, Willie Mullins, but preference is for the Irish Cesarewitch third Solwhit.
Charles Byrnes's horse was well fancied at the Curragh but came up short against Suailce and Eagles Pass. However, although he is 4lb higher in the ratings this time Solwhit should again go close. Toraidhe ran second to Space Telescope here five days ago and could again find one too good in the seven-furlong maiden as Rockhampton should have come on from his Tipperary debut.
