Mount Athos is the new Melbourne Cup favourite following reserving his ticket to Australia with a clear-minimize win in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

The Luca Cumani-skilled 5-year-old firmed to $ 18 with TAB Sportsbet after he strolled to a 3-1/4 length win above Brown Panther with Modun 3rd.

Cumani was delayed in site visitors and missed the race but was pleased with the report from jockey Ryan Moore.

“I talked to Ryan Moore, who seemed quite pleased and imagined the horse picked up nicely,” Cumani explained.

“The strategy is to go for the Melbourne Cup.

“Following this, I would assume he will go up to 53.five kilograms, which is the very same as 1 of other hopes for the race, Quest For Peace.”

Mount Athos is even shorter for the Cup with European bookmakers. He is at 14-1 with Ladbrokes although Paddy Energy go 12-one with BetVictor at ten-1.

Cumani has twice educated the runner-up in Australia’s most popular race with Purple Moon (2007) and Bauer the following year.