Smullen excited about Melbourne Cup ride

Monday 24 September 2012, 11:43am

Pat Smullen believes Galileo's Choice represents his best chance yet of winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 6.

The multiple champion Irish jockey is hoping to give trainer Dermot Weld a remarkable third triumph in the two-mile (3200m) race.

Smullen is happy with the 53.5kg Galileo's Choice will carry in the big race that Weld won with Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002.

"I'm really looking forward to the ride. It's one of the world's greatest races and a race I'd dearly love to win. I think I've got a very good ride in it this year," Smullen told At The Races.

"He's got in well at the weights and the boss (Weld) can obviously ready one up for the race so hopefully that will be the case.

"This race has always been in the boss' mind for this horse. He's has done very well for us this year and he goes in there with a good profile for the race.

"I think he will handle quick ground well and equally if they get rain over there and it comes up on the easy side it won't matter. He's very adaptable ground wise, so hopefully we'll have no worries on that score."

Smullen's best Melbourne Cup performance was aboard Vinnie Roe in 2004 when the Irish stayer was runner-up to Makybe Diva in the second of the mare's three consecutive victories.

Galileo's Choice is the winner of eight races from 2012 to 3420 metres.

– PAA

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