Rails Run: Stakes Day preview
Our racing experts preview the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Stakes Day at Flemington.
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World class jockey Brett Prebble, who has one last chance to add some group 1 success to his riding record at Flemington on Saturday, will return to his base in Hong Kong early next week convinced that Melbourne racing is as competitive as anywhere in the world.
Prebble, who left Hong Kong three months ago to establish himself in Melbourne for the spring, returns to one of racing's most powerful centres maintaining his former home state is now as tough as anywhere in the racing world.
Prebble, 36, believes that Melbourne has a very strong group of jockeys who are talented, keen and very much of a world standard.
Top jockey Brett Prebble is remaining confident that the final day at Flemington will bring him success. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
''I think comparing when I was riding here in Melbourne a few years ago to now, the difference is enormous. You have a jockeys' room full of very talented jockeys all chasing the very best rides,'' he said.
''When you see the likes of Craig Williams, a top international jockey, just getting four or five rides at a meeting, you know things must be tight.
''He would have a full book wherever he goes in the world so that's an example of competition.
''Look, it's the same story all over the world.
''As a jockey, your life is made that much easier when you are a stable rider for a big outfit. You have some very good rides at your disposal, and they are waiting for you and you don't have to chase down good rides,'' Prebble said
On Sunday night Prebble flies out after a frustrating spring carnival. Prebble, born and raised in Ballarat, primarily returned to Australia to ride for the Lloyd Williams team.
Prebble was hoping for back-to-back Melbourne Cups with Green Moon, but the stayer struggled in Tuesday's race.
Luck also deserted Williams and Prebble in the Bart Cummings Stakes at Flemington last month when Sea Moon was first past the post but lost the race on protest.
''That was disappointing and then we went to Moonee Valley and I finished second on Lucky Nine in the Manikato and then all my chances of winning the Geelong Cup were ruined when it rained on the morning of the race when I was riding Forgotten Voice,'' he said.
But Prebble is remaining confident that the final day at Flemington will bring success.
He again rides Lucky Nine in the $1 million VRC Sprint Classic and judging by his last-start performance at Moonee Valley when a close and unlucky second, the Hong Kong-trained sprinter will be the horse to beat.
''He's just one of those great sprinters to ride. You just point him in a direction and he goes there, he is just the loveliest horse to ride,'' Prebble said.
''I know some people are suggesting that it is a concern that he has never raced up the straight at Flemington before but he's performed well up the straight 1000-metre track back in Hong Kong and the 1000 metres is just not his go. He will be very hard to beat.''
Prebble is also excited about another of his rides in Forgotten Voice in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
''If it's wet forget him. He just can't go at all,'' he said.
''But if the track is fine he will shake the life out of the race. The people involved with him back in England brought him to Australia for dry tracks, and he showed just how hopeless he is when it rained at Geelong.''
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