Shepparton export and horse trainer Liam Howley will saddle up his stable’s leading stayer Virtuous Circle in the race that stops a nation ― his maiden runner in the famous two-mile spectacle.
It is a major career milestone for Howley ― who is based at Mount Macedon ― and his small training operation Liam Howley Racing to have a runner in the Cup.
For Howley and a number of the Shepparton-based ownership, suiting up Virtuous Circle in the $8.4 million race has brought plenty of excitement and they are daring to dream.
“I couldn’t be more excited. The stable, we’ll be two years and 11 months since starting out with only four horses, so it’s just a dream come true to have a runner in the Cup,” Howley said.
“There’s a real Shepp connection in the horse. You’ve got my mum and dad, former Shepp footy club president Will Phillips, Mick Connick, Scotty Roberts ... so there’s a real Shepparton connection there and a lot of good people in the ownership.
“It’s been an exciting ride with him (Virtuous Circle) already and hopefully we can try add another chapter on Tuesday.”
Howley has had experience and success on the first Tuesday of November before.
He helped prepare and train 2016 winner Almandin as a private co-trainer for the Melbourne Cup’s most successful owner Lloyd Williams.
He knows a thing or two about preparing stayers for the great race.
Which is why he is buoyant about his four-year-old entire’s chances.
Virtuous Circle, who ran second in the Group One Australian Derby in April, is rated a 151-1 chance with some of the major corporate bookmakers.
Jockey Craig Newitt will steer a hard-fit Virtuous Circle who drops in weight to 51kg.
Four runs this spring preparation haven’t brought success and the son of Almanzor ran 10th in the Group Three Bart Cummings (2500m) before an eighth-placing last start in the Geelong Cup (2400m).
Howley conceded Virtuous Circle had “genuine excuses” last start and that he was “happy to put a line through that run”.
His crack in the Bart Cummings is what gives Howley hope he can run a big race on Tuesday at 3pm.
“His run in the Bart was very good and he travelled well. I still think if he found clear air he would’ve been fighting it out for the placings,”
“Damian Lane (jockey) jumped off and said ‘he still had plenty on the bridle’ down the straight.
“He’s been good since Geelong ... he had a really good gallop at Bendigo last week and he has given me no signs he can’t run out the two miles.
“The inside draw (barrier six) doesn’t work for us; he likes to get back and go to sleep and build through his gears. For a small stable it’s an expensive exercise, we wouldn’t be here if we just wanted to make up the numbers.
“We know he can make an impact and we want to take ’em on.”
It is set to be a busy week for the former Shepparton native as he looks to go back-to-back in the Kyneton Cup.
Howley’s Station One ― another runner with plenty of Shepparton connections ― will tackle the time-honoured 2000m race and look to clinch consecutive wins.
“We’re hoping to go back-to-back and win our local cup with Station One,” Howley said.
“(Station One) he has been in really good order and I’ve been happy with how he is going. We go there hoping to be fighting it out in the finish. New York Hurricane may also get a run (in the Kyneton Cup) and he’s been running really consistently.”
