Classy Galileo gelding Linton is already giving the Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume a run for her money in the 2010 Melbourne Cup, in the early Cup betting markets that is.

With bookies opening up pre-nomination betting for this year’s 150^th Melbourne Cup, scheduled as Race 7 at Flemington on Tuesday November 2, punters are getting behind Victorian runner Linton to win the $6 million race.

Bart Cummings’ rising filly Faint Perfume is the early Melbourne Cup favourite following a successful autumn campaign that included an elite level win in the Group 1 Storm Queen Stakes (2000m), but money has steadily been coming in for rival Melbourne Cup hopeful Linton.

Trained by Robert Hickmott at Mt. Macedon in Victoria, three-year-old Linton made headlines in the autumn with a stunning campaign that culminated with a win in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley and a gallant third to Rock Classic in the Group 1 Australian Crown Guineas also over 1600m at Flemington.

Despite having had just two wins from four career starts and never having been tested over a distance greater than a ‘mile’, Linton is still a hot favourite for the Melbourne Cup and is sure to top the markets at [sportsbet] in his earlier spring carnival races.

Looking for the form of the 2010 Melbourne Cup field? Bookmark this page as we will be the first to publish the nominations in August and then the list of runners for the Melbourne Cup final field in October.

Horse Facts – Linton

Jockey: Linton has most recently been ridden by Nash Rawiller and Michael Rodd with his spring jockey yet to be decided.

Trainer: Robert Hickmott (Mt. Macedon)

Owner: Mr N C Williams, Mr L J Williams, Mrs S J Williams

Age: 3YO

Gender: Gelding

Career: 4-2-0-1

Current Melbourne Cup Odds: $16 SportingBet

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