Ebor winner Muntahaa can handle Melbourne Cup heat

[Glasgow]

CHAMPION jockey Jim Crowley is confident notoriously volatile Muntahaa will cope with Melbourne Cup pressure as John Gosden attempts to add another golden touch to an incredible season.

Regarded as highly-strung – and highly talented – Muntahaa is following the same pathway to Flemington as previous Ebor Handicap winners Heartbreak City and Nakeeta.

While Heartbreak City (second in 2016) and Nakeeta (fifth in ’17) ran well without winning, Crowley believes the enigmatic Muntahaa can create history despite concerns over the horse’s fragility.

“Obviously you would have concerns (about his temperament)…but he’s growing up, he’s getting mentally better as he is gets older,” Crowley, Britain’s champion flat rider, said.

“Hopefully he can take it all in. He’s a strong traveler. He used to pull hard in his younger days but he’s got better in his last few starts.”

Crowley said Gosden had reformed the rebellious grey, curbing his cantankerous instincts.

“Things just weren’t going right for him at the time (as a young horse) and they gelded him,” Crowley said.

“John Gosden is just an unbelievable trainer and he decided to start again with him and take him back to square one.

“That’s why we saw him win the Ebor the way he did.

“He’s a strong traveller and in the Ebor he was the last horse off the bridle.

“At the furlong (200m) pole, everybody was pushing away and he was just sat there and I pressed the button.

“He’s quick enough. He’s won over a mile and a half in Group races.”

Gosden has dominated European racing this season with superstars Enable, Cracksman and Stradivarius.