Mullins happy with Simenon ahead of Melbourne Cup

Simenon, Ireland's big hope for next week's Melbourne Cup, pleased trainer Willie Mullins in a workout at Flemington racecourse on Tuesday morning. This season's Ascot Gold Cup runner-up engaged in a mile-and-three-quarters gallop in the hands of Emmet Mullins, the trainer's nephew.

The Co Carlow handler told his website, www.wpmullins.com: “It was very pleasing. “We are very happy with him and hope that he comes out of it well.”

Simenon already has experience of running competitively in Australia when he finished a close-up third behind Sea Moon in the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 12th. The six-year-old gelding is as low as 12-1 to win the Melbourne Cup.

Richard Kingscote, meanwhile, has been forced to sit tight as he waits to see if he will be able to get some first-hand experience at Flemington before riding Brown Panther in next Tuesday's showpiece. Tom Dascombe's stable jockey was thwarted in an attempt to pick up rides around the course last month, but connections retain their faith in a man who has partnered the five-year-old in all but four of his 17 career outings.

Kingscote, who is not the most fashionable of jockeys, was replaced by Kieren Fallon when Brown Panther finished second in the 2011 St Leger, but has been ever-present since the middle of 2012 and helped him to a career-best victory in the Goodwood Cup on August 1st. He was in the saddle to put the entire through his paces at Werribee on Wednesday morning.

“I’m hoping that I’ll get a ride early in the card (next Tuesday),” said Kingscote. “It’s a nice experience to come out here and it has been a nice confidence-booster.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of the jockeys at home about the race and been through a few replays. The local lads know the score and I’ll hopefully talk to a few people.”