Smullen admits Beauty draw 'not ideal'

Pat Smullen admitted on Sunday that Profound Beauty had not been helped by the draw for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup but was still hopefull of victory for the mare at Flemington.

Dermot Weld's charge returns 'down under' having finished fifth in Australia's big race back in 2008.

Weld remains the only European trainer to have won the Cup through Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).

"I couldn't be more pleased with her and she's a better mare than she was two years ago, but she'll need to be to win," Smullen said.

"The draw (22 of 24) is not ideal but not impossible."

Unless Bauer or Manighar fulfil Luca Cumani's burning ambition to lift Tuesday's Emirates sponsored contest it sounds as if he will continue his pilgrimage to Australia until he does.

Cumani has narrowly failed on two occasions so far, with Purple Moon going within half a length in 2007 before Bauer was beaten just a nose a year later.

As much as Cumani is said to dislike his reputation in Britain as the master of the handicaps, he seems in thrall to the puzzle of one of the most competitive major races on the planet.

"It's a race I've always followed," he said.

"Five years ago I came over with a horse called Glistening, who came 10th, and by then I was gripped by the idea of it and I wanted to try to win it one day.

"I went very close, it couldn't really have been any closer.

"It is an incredible atmosphere, and there's a great build-up that increases day-by-day. You don't expect to win it, but it would be really nice."

Just one of the measures Cumani has taken is to use local knowledge, booking domestic rider Chris Munce for Bauer and Damien Oliver for Manighar.

But beyond his control is the weather and a deluge turned the Flemington track to heavy at Saturday's meeting - although it could still dry out considerably.

"Everything is important," he said.

"European horses don't break as well as Australian horses. We jump out and gradually get into the swing of things. Everything breaks well in Australia, and it's up to the jockeys to overcome it.

"You mustn't get trapped behind, it's so different to other horse races, and so difficult to get right."

Bauer has only raced twice since his last outing at Flemington, performing nicely on his most recent outing at Newbury while Manighar was a promising fifth in one of the lead-up races, the Caulfield Cup.

But Cumani feels they could have their work cut out against big local favourite So You Think, the impressive winner of the Cox Plate and Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes.

"I'm very happy with both," he said.

"Manighar ran very well in the Caulfield Cup but he didn't finish as well as (last year's winner) Shocking.

"But looking at what So You Think did to Shocking on Saturday, we've got a lot of ground to make up.

"It's a big challenge for Bauer but his last piece of work was excellent. If it's good ground both will be happy but if it's soft, then Bauer won't be."

William Knight is experiencing his first taste of Melbourne, with his stable star and Goodwood Cup winner Illustrious Blue lining up after being bought by an Australian syndicate.

Knight has escaped the constant press scrutiny by only arriving on Friday night.

He said: "It's a great opportunity for a small yard. He obviously stays two miles, has a turn of foot and has the right profile for a Melbourne Cup horse. His preparation has been spotless and we're happy to stay off the radar."

The locals know more about Alain de Royer-Dupre's Americain, who won his trial in the Geelong Cup a fortnight ago.

"I'd like good ground - he has never run on soft - but I don't think it will be a problem," said the French trainer.

"He had an easy race last time, it was just a prep for the great race.

"He looks well but the problem is the long trip. It was a good run, but it could be difficult to do it again after two weeks."

Godolphin have been second even more times than Cumani - three in all - and are represented by Campanologist (Kerrin McEvoy) and Holberg (Frankie Dettori).

McEvoy has put each through their paces at the quarantine centre in nearby Werribee this week.

"I haven't ridden Campanologist a lot - I rode him back in 2007 - but he seems bright and happy,

"I think his weight (joint-second top on 56kg) shies a few away from him but he's a quality performer.

"Holberg is a smaller horse but he towed me around the track in nice fashion this week and has a good profile. All being well they should both run nice races."

The respective representatives from Hong Kong and Japan, Mr Medici and Tokai Trick, are expected to build upon their efforts in the Caulfield Cup.

The latter's trainer Kenji Nonaka said the hardy nine-year-old was "as competitive at the distance" as his compatriots Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who fought out the 2006 renewal.