Jaameh in Hotham race for gold ticket

LINDSAY Park and Darren Weir will have one final roll of the dice with a string of Melbourne Cup contenders in Saturday’s Group 3 Lexus Stakes, intent on dousing the international challenge.

David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, along with Weir, will attempt to bolster local Cup representation with a gold ticket from the Hotham Handicap into next Tuesday’s race.

With the Hotham winner guaranteed a berth in next week’s $7.3 million Melbourne Cup, Weir and Lindsay Park are unleashing an 11th-hour push to clinch a Cup berth.

Hayes already has Ventura Storm in the Cup, but needs Jaameh to win the Hotham with the import sitting at 43rd in the order of entry, with a limit of 24 Cup runners.

Weir has Tosen Basil and Red Cardinal safely in the field.

The premier trainer has entered five horses for the Hotham — Yogi, Gallic Chieftain, Sixties Groove, Azuro and Kellstorm.

Of the quintet, all but Kellstorm are still in Cup reckoning.

Kellstorm is the only one of the five not in second declarations for the Cup.

Kiwi stayer Zacada currently sits 24th in the order of entry and is also among the Hotham nominations.

Four other horses entered for the Lexus — Vengeur Masque (17), Auvray (20) and Finche (22) and Runaway (23) — are in the top 24 in the Cup order of entry.