Racing: Irishman wants vintage crop of his own with Max Dynamite

The Willie Mullins trained Max Dynamite. Photo / Getty Images

When 10-time champion trainer Willie Mullins arrived in Melbourne for the first time during a 1993 world trip it coincided, by accident, with fellow Irishman Dermot Weld changing history by winning the Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop.

"This is a mega race and it was fantastic to see Dermot win it," Mullins said.

It set a determination in Mullins to one day replicate that victory.

He's had two attempts for 17th with Holy Orders in Makybe Diva's first Cup and Simenon's fourth to Fiorente two years ago and reckons Max Dynamite gives him his best chance yet.

Mullins told Racenet he rates the Melbourne Cup "possibly the biggest race in the world at a the moment and it would be everything to win it.

Mullins, who arrived in Australia on Saturday morning, says everything has gone to plan since Max Dynamite arrived at the Werribee quarantine centre on September 26.

"I have been very happy with how the horse has settled in, how he trained," he said.

Mullins said he was buoyed about Max Dynamite's Melbourne Cup prospects when Trip to Paris turned in one of the best trials in the Caulfield Cup.

In their last European clash, in the Lonsdale Cup (3300m), Max Dynamite defeated fellow Melbourne Cup runners Trip to Paris by 11.5 lengths and Big Orange by 14 lengths.

"Lots of things have gone right for us and the form is working out," Mullins said. "His previous run on the flat was in the Northumberland Plate. He came from a really wide draw to be a good second so I thought that could win us a Lonsdale Cup but what we didn't expect was how well he won it."