Newcastle trainer Kris Lees hopes a good draw and improved manners will help Mustajeer run up to his best second time around in the $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200 metres) at Flemington on Tuesday.
The import was a $19 chance last year in the Cup but, after getting worked up in front of the big crowd, he jumped from gate six and endured a torrid run three wide back in the field before coming widest around the home turn and finishing second last.
That was just his second start for Lees, who has been building the now eight-year-old towards the Cup after a successful autumn in Sydney where he won first-up in the listed Parramatta Cup. He was also second in the group 3 Sky High Stakes and group 1 Tancred Stakes.
In four unplaced runs this preparation, Mustajeer has failed to find his best form but the $71 TAB chance has drawn well in gate two to get a far easier trip on Tuesday.
"I think he'll be mid to forward of midfield, depending on the pace of the race," Lees said. "It's a big advantage, that soft draw in a long race.
"Last year they slowed up and Damien Oliver made a decision to get going on him, which in hindsight probably wasn't the right move. He was travelling five and six deep for a fair way.
"It's a suitable draw, we'll get a nice run. We're optimistic that we can get a good cheque for the owners."
Crowd noise will not be an issue this year for Mustajeer given the meeting is closed to spectators because of COVID-19. However, Lees said the horse's "manners are fine now" anyway.
"The crowd probably won't have any significance to him," he said. "He would have preferred [no crowd] last year, that's for sure.
"In both races [Caulfield and Melbourne Cups] he ran his races before he got out there but he's made steady improvement with each run this preparation."
In 2019, Hunter syndication company Australian Bloodstock brought Mustajeer to the Melbourne spring carnival with high hopes after he won the Ebor Handicap at York. He showed his potential with a 1.8-lengths sixth to Mer De Glace in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
This year he was eighth in the race, four lengths away from winner Verry Elleegant. He was a similar margin away in the group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick before heading to Melbourne. He was five lengths back in the Premiers Cup (1900m) and six lengths away in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000) to start his campaign.
Billy Egan rode Mustajeer in the Caulfield Cup but Michael Rodd, who won the Melbourne Cup on Efficient in 2007, has taken over.
"It probably wasn't quite as good a Caulfield Cup run, but it was still an encouraging run," said Lees, who will watch the Cup from Randwick. "Each run has been a bit better, so I'm happy enough with where he's at.
"He's just taken a while to get right but this was always his target and hopefully he's getting there in good order.
"He spelled a bit well, and being an older horse, he's just been a run behind, but he's where he needs to be. It's just whether he's good enough. We're about to find out."
Australian Bloodstock, who won the Cup with Protectionist in 2014, also have Ashrun ($23) in the race.
