English jockey Jim Crowley has his eye in ahead of a Melbourne Cup assignment, claiming a winning double at Bendigo with his first two rides in Australia.
Crowley will ride the John Gosden-trained Muntahaa in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Muntahaa races in the blue and white colours of Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud operation.
And Crowley made the perfect start to his Victorian stay when he wore the same colours to wins at Bendigo on Wednesday aboard the Lindsay Park-trained stablemates Jawwaal and Eshtiraak.
“I hope it keeps going,” Crowley told broadcaster Racing.com.
“I hope I haven’t used up all my luck, but it’s been a good day.”
Muntahaa won The Ebor Handicap at York in August at his most recent start and the gelding is high up in Melbourne Cup betting at $13.
“I can’t wait,” Crowley said.
“It’s a race that I’ve always wanted to ride in and to go there with a live chance, it will be good.”
Crowley is also booked to ride Qafila for Lindsay Park and Shadwell in Saturday’s Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
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