Racing: Booming ready for better effort

Booming is an each-way chance in the Moonee Valley Cup tomorrow.Picture / Natalie Wood

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds says Booming has improved for the Moonee Valley Cup which will bring him on again for the Melbourne Cup.

Lynds said he had gradually lifted Booming's work rate through his campaign and is keen for him to perform well at the Valley tomorrow.

At his Australian debut this campaign the son of Don Eduardo was beaten just over a length when fifth to Foreteller in last Saturday's group three Coongy Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield.

"He will improve from that race," said Lynds.

"We are just in the throes of getting the skittles lined up so he can run in the Melbourne Cup."

Lynds, who also has Wall Street in the Cox Plate, knows Booming can run 3200m after he finished second to Zavite in the Auckland Cup last year.

The 7-year-old's group one record also includes wins in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) and the Thorndon Mile (1600m) last summer.

Booming has only 52.5kg in the Melbourne Cup and, 31st in order of entry, seems assured of a start.

"He's a good horse and has a double cross to Sir Tristram in his line," Lynds said. "He's very versatile, he has a good turn of foot, and we have just got to get him in the zone which is what we are working on at present."

Booming is a forgotten horse in Moonee Valley Cup markets and is on the sixth line with TAB Sportsbet at $11.

Last year's Geelong and Melbourne Cup winner Americain makes his Australian return in the event and is the $3.30 favourite, ahead of Tullamore ($4.40) who finished third in last Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

Last-start Herbert Power Stakes winner Shewan is $6.50.

One of the outsiders at $41 is New Zealander Harris Tweed who, trained by Murray Baker, has struggled for form since finishing second in last year's Caulfield Cup and fifth in the Melbourne Cup.

"He did have a wind operation in the autumn but we don't think it is affecting him at all," Baker said.

He said the blinkers go back on the 6-year-old in the hope of sparking a form turnaround.

"He raced a good part of his career in blinkers and we are just hoping he can run a much improved race on Saturday, which he is going to need to do," Baker said.

Two French stayers sit atop Melbourne Cup betting after Dunaden's Geelong Cup victory on Wednesday catapulted him into second favouritism.

Dunaden will try to replicate Americain's Geelong-Melbourne Cups double of last year. Only the returning French champion is shorter in the latest Cup markets.

TAB Sportsbet slashed Dunaden from $21 to $9, equal with Anthony Freedman's German import Lucas Cranach, with Americain at $7.50.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter yesterday penalised Dunaden 0.5kg, which will take his Melbourne Cup weight to 54.5kg.

The similarities between Dunaden and Americain are striking.

Both carried 58kg to win the Geelong Cup and Dunaden will carry the same impost that Americain carried to win the Melbourne Cup.

- AAP