Murtagh looking forward to Melbourne

Johnny Murtagh today said he was greatly looking forward to riding German raider Caitano in the Tooheys New Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

He replaces French star Olivier Peslier who has been forced to abort his plans to go to Australia because of a passport hitch.

Murtagh said today: 'I am looking forward to it. I have always wanted to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

'The trainer is very happy and the horse is doing good. Everybody is pretty happy with the horse. I don`t think the Australian stayers are any stars so we have got to have a chance.

'I am riding at Saint-Cloud tomorrow for Aidan O`Brien and then heading out straight away.'

He will partner Royal Lodge Stakes winner Mutinyonthebounty in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Murtagh, 31, enjoyed an amazing season last year, riding Sinndar to victory in the English and Irish Derbys, as well as the Prix de l`Arc De Triomphe.

In total, he bagged 12 Group One triumphs, including wins on Petrushka and Kalanisi for Sir Michael Stoute.

And Murtagh is widely expected to be the main beneficiary of Stoute`s surprise decision not to retain a stable jockey next season.

The much-travelled Caitano has already had an outing in Australia having finished seventh of eight to Northerly in last weekend`s controversial Carlton Draught Cox Plate over 10 furlongs at the tight Moonee Valley circuit.

Caitano - whose trainer Andreas Schutz left the cold of Melbourne for a weekend break in tropical Cairns yesterday - is among the rank outsiders at 50-1.

But Schutz is convinced his charge will be better adapted to the two miles of Flemington`s galloping track.

Murtagh is expected to arrive in Melbourne on Monday morning.