Excitement builds for Middleham Park as Raymond Tusk takes aim at Melbourne Cup

Ten individual owners plus their travelling companions ensure a group of 28 connections are making the trip of a lifetime to Melbourne for Australia's most famous race on Tuesday.

Ebor fourth Raymond Tusk is guaranteed a start in the A$8m (£4.3m/€4.8m) showpiece after the third acceptances were confirmed on Monday, breaking new ground for Middleham Park Racing by becoming the syndicate's first runner in Australia.

Raymond Tusk was beaten two lengths by the reopposing Mustajeer in the big York handicap back in August and the excitement is building for Middleham Park, which owns Raymond Tusk along with Kulbir Sohi, as evidenced by a hyperactive Facebook group set up for the travelling contingent.

Syndicate manager Tim Palin said: “For ten or 15 years our owners have been saying how it would be a privilege to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup.

"We've never really had the right horse for it but the Ebor cemented our view and there was plenty of interest in Raymond Tusk from Australia after that which made us think it's worth going for. It's a culmination of 15 years of dreaming!

"Racing Victoria have been fabulous with the package they have put together for us. They're treating us like royalty and it's a trip of a lifetime for an owner. We have a Facebook messenger group going and it keeps pinging every 30 minutes in the excitement of it all."

Raymond Tusk: sparking excitement among Middleham Park Racing syndicateCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A Group 2 winner in Italy last year, Raymond Tusk was entered in the Caulfield Cup but missed that engagement to arrive fresh for the Lexus-sponsored Melbourne Cup. It is a decision that has paid off with the four-year-old sitting in 21st spot in the order of entry for the race that has a maximum field of 24.

Raymond Tusk is a best price 20-1 shot with bet365 and Palin believes he has plenty in his favour.

He said: "We keep getting updates sent through and he looks a million dollars. He's best fresh so we favoured going straight to the Melbourne Cup rather than the Caulfield Cup and Jamie [Spencer] told us Caulfield might not suit him after riding there on the Saturday before declarations.

"The Melbourne Cup ticks every box for him – his weight, the distance, likely good going and the form he brings is all in his favour. I don't think there's a single question mark over him and we can't wait to get out there."

Jamie Spencer partnered Raymond Tusk in a swinging canter over a mile with Marmelo at Werribee on Tuesday morning and feels his Melbourne Cup mount is in fine order.

He said: "He was drawn badly in the Ebor and on another day could have won but if he wins the Melbourne Cup, we’ll be happy to forgo the Ebor. He’s in good shape and I wish the race was tomorrow."

There was support on Tuesday for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Il Paradiso, who was backed into 14-1 (from 20) with Sky Bet. Glen Boss will learn whether he can ride 6-1 favourite Constantinople following his appeal against a six-meeting suspension for careless riding at Randwick on Saturday.

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