Waterhouse sneaks Cismontane into Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse won the ballot-exempt A$300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) for the second time in the past three editions, as Cismontane all but led all the way on Saturday to book a spot in Tuesday’s A$6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, watched on as High Chaparral gelding Cismontane made all the running for Stephen Baster — continuing the jockey’s fine spring, especially in conjunction with this particular stable.
The Waterhouse yard also got the last-minute Cup ticket in 2015 with Excess Knowledge, who went on to run seventh in the two-mile race.
Despite setting the tempo and having lengths on Aloft in the run, Cismontane was tough as nails in the home straight — as Geelong Cup winner Vengeur Masque and 100-1 shot Pentathlon loomed up.
Vengeur Masque did briefly get a neck in front but missed out on a Cup berth for the second year running — having been 25th in the order of entry when final acceptances were taken in 2016 when Cismontane finished more strongly.
Moments after the Lexus, Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter confirmed Cismontane would not be penalised — and will carry 50kg in the Cup.
The past 18 Lexus winners have all run in the Cup — 13 of them finished in the top 10 in the famous race, including eight of the past 10 — with Shocking in 2009 the most recent to do the Lexus-Cup double, while prior to that, Brew did likewise in 2000.
While Cismontane is ensured of his Cup spot, there was briefly a nervous wait for the Willie Mullins-trained Thomas Hobson which went from 24th to the ballot fringe at 25th but jumped back to 24th with the forced withdrawal of Jon Snow.
Harlem, the Lexus favourite, disappointed and trainer David Hayes confirmed after the race he will not forge ahead with Cup plans.
Baster said Cismontane has made remarkable improvement this campaign. “If you asked me six months ago I would have said he is flat out winning a mid-weeker,” Baster said.