He should improve from the Caulfield Cup.

James McDonald says the Melbourne Cup looks the right race for international raider Meydaan.

Trained by Ed and Simon Crisford, Meydaan will run second-up in Australia on the first Tuesday in November after a so-so ninth in the Caulfield Cup.

After taking Meydaan for a spin at Werribee on Sunday, McDonald has an air of positivity about the son of Frankel.

He says the talented stayer is crying out for the 3200m and the spacious Flemington track on Tuesday week.

“I had a sit on him yesterday (Sunday) at Werribee and he absolutely worked beautifully,” McDonald said on SEN’s Whateley.

“I couldn’t believe how good he worked and how he felt. He was terrific, really pleased with him.

“He didn’t have a lot of luck in the Caulfield Cup but he finished off gamely. This horse just screams Flemington, screams 3200.

“He’s in the race as good as any.”

Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni rode Meydaan in the Caulfield Cup, but now 2021 winner McDonald will take the Melbourne Cup ride.

The New Zealand native, who claimed his fourth straight Cox Plate on Via Sistina on the weekend, admits he is lucky to be booked on Meydaan.

“It just popped up after the Caulfield Cup. It’s a nice pickup ride, he’s definitely a runner’s chance,” he added.

“With my weight scale it makes it very difficult to get a ride in the race so I’m very grateful for that.”

J-Mac will have to ride at 54kg and he’d only be doing that if he was on a live Cup chance.

“I think he is actually (a live chance),” he replied.

“I was really buoyed by his work the other morning, he was really well.

“Put it his way, it’s increased my positivity towards him because he’s fifth favourite and I think he’ll run better than that.”

He admits it will be a grind to shed the 1.5 to 2kg required to take the ride but he’s not complaining.

It is his job after all.

“There’s definitely a lot of work involved. I’ve got about a week now,” he said further.

“I’ve been consistently riding at 55.5 to 56kg all season so far, so I just have to tighten the screws a little bit this week and I should be fine.

“It’s not going to be pleasant but it is a Melbourne Cup and I am a jockey so that’s what we’ve got to do.”

McDonald says he’ll have half the size of his regular meals and exercise a bit more in order to get down to the weight.

He last rode at 54.5kg when he partnered Lady Shenanodah to win the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill in March.

The 33-year-old has had just one Melbourne Cup ride in the last three years since saluting on Verry Elleegant in 2021. He partnered 2022 winner Gold Trip to finish a disappointing 17th in 2023.

Meydaan is currently rated a $12 Cup chance with Sportsbet.

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