Oceanographer second favourite for Melbourne Cup after Lexus Stakes win

GALLERY: OCEANOGRAPHER has stormed into second favouritism for the Melbourne Cup after scoring an impressive win in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington.

Kerrin McEvoy powered down the outside to win the Lexus Stakes on Oceanographer. Picture: Nicole Garmston

OCEANOGRAPHER has stormed into second favouritism for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, extending Godolphin’s stunning Australian spring with a tough and impressive Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The quality of Oceanographer’s performance to surge from the tail of the field to overhaul Tom Melbourne prompted TAB to slash his Cup odds from $18 to $5.

MELBOURNE CUP: FORM GUIDE

And it attracted a 1kg re-handicap from Racing Victoria’s Greg Carpenter, who described Oceanographer’s performance as “impressive.”

Carpenter said he had re-handicapped only two previous Lexus winners — Maluckyday, who finished second to American in the 2010 Cup, and Signoff, who ran fourth to Fiorente two years ago.

Oceanographer reels in Tom Melbourne to win the Lexus Stakes.

Eight of the previous nine Lexus winners subsequently finished in the top 10 of the Cup.

Oceanographer is the third individual winner this spring from Englishman Charlie Appleby’s stable — and completes a rare treble for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

Appleby and McEvoy combined with Qewy in the Geelong Cup, Francis Of Assisi in the Bendigo Cup and again on Saturday.

PARTY TIME:

Stars party at Derby Day Birdcage

VIEW GALLERY

They also joined forces with Scottish, who finished second in the Caulfield Cup to Jameka.

At 26th in the Cup order of entry before his powerful Lexus win, Oceanographer is now assured a start on Tuesday, giving Godolphin a strong hand in the Cup.

Trainer Charlie Appleby and Kerrin McEvoy have enjoyed a successful spring. Picture: Ian Currie

Apart from Appleby’s Qewy and Oceanographer, the Blue Army also has the $4.50 favourite Hartnell (John O’Shea) and Secret Number and Beautiful Romance (Saeed Bin Suroor).

VRC officials will meet later today to finalise the field amid doubts over Real Love, who paddled into sixth place.

Fringe entrants Tom Melbourne and De Little Engine are still in contention for Cup starts

Originally published as Oceanographer second favourite for Melbourne Cup after Lexus Stakes win