Interpretation is on the verge of gaining a start in the Melbourne Cup after taking out the Group 3 Bendigo Cup on Wednesday.

The announcement that Annabel Neasham’s pair of King Frankel and Fancy Man would not be accepting for the Melbourne Cup 2023 and later Hasta La War would be spelled after flopping in the Bendigo Cup, Interpretation has moved to number 24 in the Order of Entry for next Tuesday’s Group 1 feature.

Five horses below him in the Order of Entry – Ladies Man, Athabascan, United Nations, Kalapour and Mostly Cloudy – can leapfrog him if successful in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The Archer provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.

Interpretation was liable for a rehandicap, but Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan announced no penalty for Interpretation for Tuesday’s race.

Sent out the $2.70 bookmaker favourite under Michael Dee, Interpretation scored a short-half-head win from Brayden Star ($7.50) with Taramansour ($14) a half-length away third.

Interpretation was brought out to Australia for last year’s Melbourne Cup but was retired from the race.

He was gelded and spelled before starting his build-up towards the Cup at Moonee Valley in July.

Interpretation broke through for his first win in 811 days and provided Maher and Eustace with their second successive Bendigo Cup win after taking out the race last year with High Emocean who went on to finish third in the Melbourne Cup last year.

“Hopefully he can take his spot,” Maher said.

“That’s what we bought him for and to sneak him in on the minimum, that’s the idea of trying to win a Cup, and hopefully he can.

“He’s certainly in good form.

“High Emocean ran well out of this race last year, so hopefully he can do the same.

“The horse was a colt last year when he ran in the Cup, and it didn’t really go to plan. He went forward and there was a lot of pressure, but he’s a gelding now and I think he’s a lot more genuine.”