THE former Aidan O’Brien-trained Homesman has won on debut in Australia. Trained by Liam Howley for majority owners Lloyd and Nick Williams, the War Front gelding held a slight edge over his stablemate, the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Almandin, winning by a nose in the Mornington Cup Prelude over 2,000 metres at Caulfield.

“The two horses went particularly well first-up,” said Nick Williams. “It’s very exciting, maybe he (Homesman) might join Almandin in the ($1.5 million Group 1) Australian Cup (March 10th). We’ll just wait and see on that. They’ve both got plenty of improvement in them so today’s a great kick off with them.”