Valiant King has surged into Melbourne Cup contention after a commanding staying display to capture The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.
Victory in The Bart Cummings carries a coveted ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4, and the gelding now holds that ‘Golden Ticket’.
A year on from finishing 13th behind Knight’s Choice, Valiant King followed a revised spring path. After a last-place effort over 1500m in Sydney first-up, Chris Waller shifted him to Melbourne and gave him a Flemington jump-out to prime him for Saturday.
The team weighed up the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) but ultimately targeted The Bart Cummings for its ballot exemption.
With Jye McNeil biding his time, the $61 chance relished a fast clip to sprint clear by 2-¾ lengths over Torranzino ($71), with the $2.15 favourite Gilded Water a neck away in third after setting a bold tempo and pinching a sizeable mid-race break.
Charlie Duckworth, representing the Waller stable, said the set-up was ideal even if fitness was a query going in.
“Fitness was our biggest concern which is why he held a nomination in the Turnbull as well as this,” Duckworth said.
“He was much better suited to this in terms of grade and also distance.
“We were really unlucky to miss the Sydney Cup in the autumn when he had a minor foot issue leading into it and we just thought he was primed and ready to go, but hey, it will be much better to win a Melbourne Cup than a Sydney Cup.”
McNeil admitted the tearaway leader had him worried turning for home.
“I thought we had a big task ahead of us,” McNeil said.
“I was able to get in that three-wide line following Mark Zahra (on Berkshire Breeze), and you know when you find the back of a good jockey like that you’re going to be taken to the right places.
“Even when I straightened and he quickened so well, I still thought we were too far off the leader, but he reeled it in really well and it was great to be on him.”
Already a Melbourne Cup winner, the hoop hopes to stick with the stayer.
“He’ll run well anyway,” McNeil said.
“I’ve won that race once before, so you never know.”
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