Paul Makin, the colourful owner of top miler Starcraft, has bought two horses to be trained by Luca Cumani in a bid to land the 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

CUMBRIA-BASED trainer Nicky Richards beat off the competition on the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket yesterday to snap up Kevin Prendergast's Faasel for 230,000gns.