'I wake up and pinch myself': Russian Camelot owner excited by Melbourne Cup bid

Tuesday will be a special day for Melvyn Ford as the part-owner of Russian Camelot prepares to watch his horse bid for glory in Australia's greatest race.

The British-born Ford lives in Hong Kong and owing to Covid-19 restrictions is unable to attend the Melbourne Cup, but says the very fact he even has a runner is already beyond his comprehension.

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"I wake up every morning and pinch myself that we have a horse good enough to run in the race," Ford said, while taking in the action at Sha Tin on Sunday.

"I've not left Hong Kong for the past seven months due to the pandemic, so will be watching on the television with the rest of the world."

The Danny O'Brien-trained Russian Camelot is one of the talking horses of Australia after winning the South Australian Derby on his second start followed by victory in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.

Russian Camelot pushed out by John Allen to win the Australian DerbyCredit: AtkinsPhotography.com.au/ANZ

The three-year-old finished third behind Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate over 1m2f when last seen and Ford is cautiously confident the son of Camelot will handle the step up to two miles at Flemington.

"He's run in more Group 1 races than anything else in his very short career, so that's just been fantastic," Ford added. "He ran a super race in the Cox Plate, having to work hard from a very wide draw.

"He was probably entitled to drop out but stuck on so bravely to finish third, but the Cup is a different ballgame. You never know about the trip until you try and you learn as you go.

"He obviously ran well in the South Australian Derby over a mile and four and a half, so that has created some confidence he has got a chance of handling the new trip."

Russian Camelot is a general 10-1 shot for the Melbourne Cup, in a market headed by Anthony Van Dyck and Tiger Moth at 6-1.

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