Prominent racehorse owner Lloyd Williams is looking on track for glory in the world’s richest handicap after his up-and-coming gelding Linton showed promise for the 2011 Melbourne Cup running second to past Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Galileo four-year-old Linton enjoyed a solid spring campaign last year winning the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 9 and then running second to Maluckyday in the Group 3 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) on Derby Day earning the grey a spot in the 2010 Melbourne Cup field.

However come Cup Day Linton failed to step-up and ran a disappointing 21^st to Melbourne Cup winner Americain in the $6 million two-mile feature, beaten over 35 lengths.

The 2011 Melbourne Cup, set to run at Flemington on Tuesday November 1, now looms for Linton who showed improvement in the Australian Cup.

Wearing blinkers for the first time and carrying a hefty 59kg, Linton produced an eye-catching run to finish two lengths away second to 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 12.

Meanwhile, the chances of the legendary Bart Cummings winning an unprecedented 13^th Melbourne Cup this year took a blow on the weekend as his likely Cup prospect Precedence could only manage to finish fifth to Shocking in the Australian Cup.

Zabeel gelding Precedence took out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on October 23 in the lead-up to last year’s Melbourne Cup showdown, but after striking interference near the 2000m never fully recovered and was 9 ½ lengths away eighth in the official Melbourne Cup result.

Races.com.au will continue to provide the best coverage leading up to this year’s Melbourne Cup including updated info on the likely runners in the 2011 Melbourne Cup field.

Betting markets for Flemington’s most famous feature and Melbourne Cup odds will be released months in advance of the spring carnival showpiece.

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Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography