Horse Racing / Ben Asgari / 02 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free Bet

Ben Asgari is excited at the prospect of promising four-year-olds Linton and Rundle heading a five-strong Lloyd Williams team at Flemington this Saturday.

Linton hasn’t been seen since running third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at only his fourth start, and is set to kick off his spring preparation in Race 4 on the card , The Sofitel over 1400m.

Lloyd Williams' bid to win this year's 150th running of the Melbourne Cup takes an important step forward on the weekend.

Despite having three runners accepted for Saturday's feature Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), punters' attention will more than likely be focused on the resumption of two of Williams' lightly raced four-year-olds, Linton and Rundle.

Linton hasn't been seen since running third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at only his fourth start, and is set to kick off his spring preparation in Race 4 on the card , The Sofitel over 1400m.

Williams' godson Nick Hall will ride the grey son of Galileo who, despite carrying 57kgs and drawing horribly in barrier 19, has this field covered comfortably class-wise and should be right in the finish with any luck.

Following Saturday's run, Linton's next target will be the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield where he will likely run into Ciaron Maher's emerging star Moudre as both horses try to beat the ballot and gain automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.

Rundle resumes in Race 9, the Spring is the Season Handicap (1700m). He has interestingly also had just the four career starts and is by the same sire as Linton. Once again, Nick Hall will take the ride from barrier 10.

More of a genuine staying type than his flashy grey stable mate, Rundle announced himself as a future cups contender with a hugely impressive victory at Flemington in April's Galilee Series Final (2500m).

While unlikely to be fully wound up this Saturday, it wouldn't surprise at all to see him finishing over the top of his rivals.

This year's Melbourne Cup top weight (and former European star) Alandi begins his spring preparation in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) alongside his stable-mates C'est La Guerre and Mourayan.

While all three will no doubt have claims as genuine spring contenders later down the track, they will also need further than Saturday's 1600 metres to figure in the finish.