WHO Shot Thebarman earned his fourth Emirates Melbourne Cup start by snapping a two-year losing streak in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2,500 metres on Saturday.

Making a strong sustained run, the Yamanin Vital nine-year-old gelding won by a half-length from his stablemate, the Lawman gelding Libran, and the High Chaparral gelding Cismontane.

A runner-up in 2014, Who Shot Thebarman has since ran 11th and fifth.

“It’s very special,” said winning jockey Blake Shinn. “The owners follow him around everywhere he runs and he’s got a cult following this horse. He’ll now line up in his fourth Melbourne Cup and on that win he’s not without a chance.”