Vlad Duric gains Knowledge ride in Cups

Singapore based Vlad Duric has been booked to ride Excess Knowledge in the Melbourne Cup.

But first Duric will partner the stayer in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Saturday.

Duric, who is sitting second on the jockeys’ premiership table in Singapore this season said it was always a thrill to be offered a ride in the Melbourne Cup.

Excess Knowledge, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, shares equal favouritism in Saturday’s Moonee Valley race at $4 with Gallante and Who Shot Thebarman while he is a $35 chance in the Melbourne Cup.

“Gai rang me last week to ask if I would like to ride him in the Melbourne Cup and I jumped at the chance,” Duric said.

“She later rang back to say it would be a good idea if I had a sit on him beforehand and suggested I come down for this race.”

Excess Knowledge will carry 53.5kg in the Melbourne Cup after weights are raised and Duric says that will not pose a problem with jockey riding at 51.5kg in Singapore recently.