Ben Allen has been confirmed to ride the William Mullins-trained international Thomas Hobson in the 2017 Melbourne Cup field this afternoon replacing the injured Joao Moreira.
Ben Allen replaces the injured Joao Moreira (pictured) aboard Thomas Hobson in the Melbourne Cup 2017 Field at 3:00pm (AEDT) today. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.
Moreira came off his ride in the fourth, Regal Monarch, in a nasty early race fall at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Cleared of serious injury and walking away from the drama, he wasn’t passed to ride again on the day having to give up his mount in the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Irish raider Thomas Hobson is a 52kg lightweight in the Melbourne Cup and the only hoop available to make the kilos for the late call-up into the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ was 18-year-old Allen.
Looking to win the Melbourne Cup first-up from overseas for the first time since Vintage Crop (1993), Halling eight-year-old Thomas Hobson races for the first time since a second in the Group 3 Doncaster Cup (3599m) in mid-September.
He was ridden by 2014 Melbourne Cup winning hoop Ryan Moore on 58.5kg that day and will be flying down under with the notable weight drop for the Cup.
A horse with both flat and jumps race experience, Thomas Hobson is the proven two miler boasting two wins and a second from five starts over the Melbourne Cup distance and is one of two in the race along with the 2015 runner-up Max Dynamite for owner Rich Ricci.
The latest Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Thomas Hobson at $21 for the win, markets still led by Marmelo ($7) coming off the Caulfield Cup eye-catcher for sixth.
Moreira’s other remaining Melbourne Cup Day ride was on Counterplay in Race 6, senior rider Noel Callow coming on in his place.
Allen has had three rides at Flemington today riding Saturation (9th) in the first, Krusty (10th) in the third and then Swacadelic (3rd) in the fourth, where the race fall occurred.
To back Thomas Hobson and Allen in the Melbourne Cup 2017 at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au.
