Melbourne Cup Runs On The Line In Lexus Stakes

Time/Date - 14.45hrs local time/Saturday, October 31, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Flemington/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/2500m

Melbourne Cup places are at stake for Elhaame (pictured) and Havana Cooler when they run in the G3 Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, October 31.

Both horses need to win to gain a place in next Tuesday's $6-million G1 feature, and both have undeniable claims.

And for Elhaame (Saeed bin Suroor/Brad Rawiller) it seems his prospects have improved since he arrived in Australia.

"I like Elhaame a lot," said bin Suroor after seeing the horse for the first time in almost three weeks.

"He's a much better horse now than he was in England. He's travelled well, he looks well.

"He's healthy and happy, he's improved physically since he's been here."

Elhaame has won three of his past four starts and is handicapped to carry only 50kg in the Melbourne Cup.

But the son of Acclamation is well outside the Cup's 24-horse limit and as a result he needs to win on Saturday to make the field.

Should he make the field he would join the other English-trained Godolphin entrants, Sky Hunter who is already in the race and Secret Number who is just outside the cut-off line but seems likely to gain a place.

Further down the Cup entry order is Havana Cooler (John O'Shea/James McDonald).

But his trainer believes he has strong prospects of gaining automatic entry by winning the Lexus.

"I've been very happy with his work this week and I thought his last run was great," O'Shea said.

That was in the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick on October 3 when Havana Cooler finished third to stablemate Magic Hurricane.

"He had to come though on the worst part of the track, so it was a pretty good effort," O'Shea said.

"I'm confident he'll love the Flemington track, I think he'll be very competitive."

O'Shea said he would only make a decision on a Cup start after studying the situation after Saturday's racing.

Should Secret Number miss the Melbourne Cup he would be entered for the G3 Queen's Cup at Flemington on Saturday week, a race won previously by Godolphin in 2004 with Fantastic Love and in 2001 with Hatha Anna.