Havana Cooler Placed In Cup Qualifier

Imported stayer Havana Cooler has run another honest race to finish third in the G3, 2500m Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, October 31.

In a race he needed to win in order to gain a run in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup, Havana Cooler (John O'Shea/James McDonald) produced a run full of merit, but one which wasn't enough to gain a start in Australia's greatest race.

After settling down in midfield on the fence, Havana Cooler appeared to be struggling to make ground in the early part of the straight.

But McDonald persisted and the stamina of the son of Hurricane Run came into play over the final stages, allowing him to take the minor placing behind Excess Knowledge and Zanteca.

In the same race, the UK-trained Godolphin runner Elhaame (Saeed bin Suroor/Brad Rawiller) finished fourth.

Trainer John O'Shea said Havana Cooler had achieved his result despite being unsuited by the soft track.

"It was a great effort from our horse on a surface he didn't enjoy," O'Shea said.

"He's a good, honest horse who always tries, that's what got him to where he finished today."

Like Havana Cooler, Elhaame needed to win the Lexus to gain a start in the Melbourne Cup.