Monsun's Almandin Earns Ticket To Melbourne Cup

The Team Williams German-bred import Almandin (GER), earned a ticket to the 2016 Melbourne Cup with a dominant victory in Sunday's Group III The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.

Settled midfield by Damien Oliver Almandin showed the superior turn of foot to defeat Zanteca ($14) by one and a half lengths with Excess Knowledge ($12) a further half-length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).

Unusually for a Williams-owned horse, Almandin was making a quick back-up of his win in the Listed Harry White Stakes at Caulfield just over a week ago.

Part-owner Nick Williams said it was unlikely the 7yo son of Monsun would have another start before the cup.

"He's raced very well these last two weeks," Williams said.

"When we bought him he'd just beaten Protectionist over 2200 metres before Protectionist won the Melbourne Cup.

"At the time we didn't realise how good that form was otherwise we would not have bought him for what we paid for him.

"He's had a lot of problems but great credit to all the lads at the farm, they have got him back and winning."

"Dad (Lloyd Williams) set a very specific preparation for him and once we got him up to his trip he seems to be improving with every race," he said.

"Hopefully in four weeks he might improve again. It's a huge step in class to the Melbourne Cup but that's where he'll go next. I can't imagine he'll have another run.

"It's fantastic to be in the race and he's lightly weighted, he might get a small penalty for today but this is only a group three race after all."

Like Protectionist and Fiorente, Almandin (GER) is a typically good-looking son of the champion Monsun.

A brother to the Group II winner Atempo, out of the stakes-placed Tiger Hill mare Ametrin, Almandin is a three-quarter brother to Group 1 German Oaks heroine Amarette (Monsun). 

He is weighted at 50kg for the 2016 Melbourne Cup.