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Farraaj third in Mackinnnon

Roger Varian: Trainer
Image: Roger Varian: Out of luck with Farraaj.

Farraaj could not quite continue the glorious run of trainer Roger Varian and jockey Andrea Atzeni when finishing third from his outside draw in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.

With last year's winner Side Glance ruled out through a minor setback, John Smith's Cup hero Farraaj was the only British representative in the mile and a quarter Group One.

Although Atzeni managed to get inside to some extent from stall 15 and into a prominent position, he was always forced to travel three or four horses wide and was worn down in the final 100 yards by Damien Oliver and veteran gelding Happy Trails.

The Paul Beshara-trained Happy Trails was sixth behind Adelaide in the Cox Plate and held off Brazilian ace Joao Moreira and He's Your Man by a whisker.

"The draw killed him. He ran a really good race, but it's a bit disappointing really," said Varian.

"It was difficult for Andrea to get cover, but you've got to be pleased with the way he ran.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race but we could continue his international campaign a bit deeper into the year. I've put him in Hong Kong, where the Cup would be an option."

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Beshara, clearly full of confidence, said: "You could see on the outside that he had got it. He's won his three Group Ones now in photos and lost a few Group Ones in photos too.

"I think he's the best weight-for-age horse in Australia, if not the world."

Moreira, who rose to prominence on the Singapore circuit before reaching a dominant position in Hong Kong, cemented his position as one of the world's leading riders with two more big wins.

He claimed the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes on the Chris Waller-trained up-and-coming sprinter Brazen Beau, while Signoff earned himself a place in Tuesday's Emirates Melbourne Cup after a commanding victory in the Lexus Stakes.

"I was searching for a ride (in the Melbourne Cup) and he could be the one," said Moreira, while trainer Darren Weir said: "Hopefully the horse has a good couple of days so we can push on to Tuesday."

In a further disappointment for Side Glance's trainer Andrew Balding, his Lexus runner Van Percy was withdrawn on Saturday morning after being found to be lame in the off fore leg.

Now betting NON-RUNNER, MONEY BACK on the Melbourne Cup

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