Young trainer Matt Cumani is thrilled to be saddling a horse in the 2016 Melbourne Cup field and believes that Grey Lion is in the right form to lay a great account for himself in the feature race at Flemington on Tuesday afternoon.

Grey Lion began his racing career under the guidance of prominent French trainer Andre Fabre in 2014, but was transferred to the care of Cumani following his run for eighth in the Group 2 Darley Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville on August 21^st.

Having debuted to the Australian way of going to finish a close second behind Qewy in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 19^th, Grey Lion has drawn into the Melbourne Cup field in barrier 16 and will be partnered by veteran hoop Glen Boss.

Cumani has only been training in Australia as of 2016 and while conceding that he had hoped Grey Lion would draw closer to the rail than alley 16, is confident the conditions of the race will still suit the in-form galloper.

“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” Cumani said of saddling his first Melbourne Cup runner.

“It’s great to be here and to have this in my first year is unbelievable and fantastic, and a huge thanks has to go out to the owners and to my family really.

“It’s a little bit wider than we’d hoped but I think we’ve got good horses either side, and good pace.

“We’ve got Qewy on our inside and Curren Mirotic on our outside, so it could have been a lot worse.

“I think it’s all about having options. The further out you are, the easier it is to see where you’re going.

“It’s going to be up to Bossy now to try and find his route and find where he wants to settle, and then go for home when the time’s right.

“He’s come on a hell of a lot since he’s been here and really flourished. I don’t know if it’s the climate, or the Aussies or the feed, but he’s grown another leg and I hope we can keep him right all the way to the Cup day.”

Grey Lion returned to racing this year for a classy win in the Prix De Louviers (2500m) on March 4^th, but failed to fire or beat a runner home in the Prix De La Porte De Madrid (2400m).

Responding well for third in the Group Prix D’Hedouville (2400m), the Galileo entire placed seventh in the Group 2 Grand Prix De Chantilly (2400m) in what was his only other start prior to the Prix Kergorlay.

Grey Lion is currently available at 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $34 with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.