Trainer Ciaron Maher has bolstered his Melbourne Cup prospects significantly with Juja Kibo clinching a ‘Golden Ticket’ via her win in the Moonee Valley Cup.

The mare, who was a recent winner of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 3, produced a strong finishing run to take out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The Moonee Valley Gold Cup served as the final ballot-exempt race for the prestigious Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

Six of these qualifying races have already been held in Victoria, and Maher has effectively capitalised on these opportunities.

Among Maher’s other successful runners were Shockletz, who won The Archer in September, followed by Mr Monaco’s triumph in The Bart Cummings, and Point Of Law’s victory in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday.

Juja Kibo’s win guarantees her a spot in the Melbourne Cup field, meaning Maher now has seven horses safely in the 24-runner capacity field.

Royal Supremacy, Middle Earth, and Saint George are also confirmed for Maher, with Zahrann currently sitting at 25th in the order of entry.

“They seem to be coming together at the right time,” Maher commented. “They’re going well, they’re in their right races and the team are doing a great job and I’m very proud.”

Ridden by Sam Clipperton, Juja Kibo ($7.50) won by a half-length from stablemate Kings Valley ($13), with Mr Monaco ($16), another stablemate, securing third place a long head further back.

Maher praised Clipperton’s work ethic and commitment in riding the stayer throughout this campaign in Sydney.

“Sam, since he’s come back from his break, he’s done a lot of work for the stable and he asked if he could ride him,” Maher said. “He said he would make the weight, and he had been galloping him and knew how good he was going. He won the race (The Metropolitan) and asked if he could come down here. I spoke to the owners, he had a night out with them up there I think, and that sealed the deal, but they were all on board, and since his last run, Sam rode him, and said he’s improved again. He was fantastic. To come off a slow speed and show such a good turn of foot, carrying a decent amount of weight, it was a pretty good win.”

Maher was also thrilled with the efforts of the runner-up Kings Valley and the third-placed Mr Monaco, who has now earned Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone a Melbourne Cup ride.

“Kings Valley was back there as well, and I thought he was no chance,” Maher stated. “He was a bit unlucky in a Caulfield Cup not to be fighting out the finish, so he’s running into form and Jabez and Mr Monaco, that was a nice tickover for next Tuesday (week).”

With Juja Kibo securing her Melbourne Cup berth, exploring the available racing odds on Australian betting sites is a worthwhile endeavour.