Lloyd Williams and Green Moon yesterday after Green Moon won Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun
LLOYD Williams is convinced Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon has the ability to be transformed into a weight-for-age star next year.
Williams said the six-year-old would not race in next year's Cup.
"He'll get too much weight in the Cup after this, so I'd rather set him for 2000 or 2400m races at set weights," he said yesterday.
Green Moon, the Irish-bred stayer who raced in England before being bought by Williams with the aim of trying to win a Melbourne Cup, is being sent for a spell, but the owner is already thinking of next year.
"This horse loves Flemington and I'll take him back there in the autumn and try to win the Australian Cup. I might even take him into the (2000m) Australian Cup first-up," he said.
"He will have a maximum of one or two runs in the autumn and then I will bring him back next spring and see whether he is good enough for another crack at the Cox Plate."
A Melbourne Cup win is usually a career-peak for most racehorses, but jockey Brett Prebble said Green Moon's best racing days might still be ahead of him.
"Green Moon is a serious animal," Prebble said.
"I think probably next year will be his best."
Williams revealed Green Moon had emerged from the Cup in good shape.
"I've had lots of runners in 3200m races and had some pretty distressed ones after they ran, but Green Moon is in fantastic order," he said.
Mornington trainer Pat Carey will assess stayer Ethiopia in the next few days to determine his future.
Ethiopia was pulled out of the Melbourne Cup at the top of the straight and finished 50 lengths last.
Jockey Rhys McLeod said the four-year-old "lost all power behind" when he asked him to go.
Carey has given the Australian Derby winner antibiotics and ice treatment, and will wait before scans or X-rays.
"The horse is a bit stiff and sore. He gashed himself coming out of the barriers and you just don't know what damage has been done," Carey said.
"He's out for a spell, so a few days allowing things to settle down won't hurt."
Gai Waterhouse's Cup runner-up Fiorente and possibly stablemate Glencadam Gold will go on to the 2400m Zipping Classic at Sandown on Saturday week, as will Green Moon's stablemate, Mourayan.
Third placegetter Jakkalberry and fellow English raider Red Cadeaux are headed for the Japan Cup on November 25.
Cumani's My Quest for Peace is Hong Kong bound.
-with AAP
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