RUNAWAY, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott lived up to his name with an all-the-way win in Tuesday’s Geelong Cup but the Roger Charlton-trained favourite, Withhold, finished a disappointing eighth after appearing to race in a good position behind Runaway.

Currently 49th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, the 15/1 outsider jumped well from an outside barrier and was guided home in front by jockey Stephen Baster to win from stablemate Northwest Passage and the Chris Waller-trained top-weight Finche. He will need a significant penalty from the handicapper to climb into the 24-horse field of the Melbuorne Cup.

Runaway was having just his third start this season and was coming off a fourth place in the Cranbourne Cup less than two weeks ago. He has won the Listed VRC St Leger (one mile, six furlongs) at Flemington earlier this year before placing third in the Group 1 level in the South Australian Derby (one mile, four furlongs).

Runaway was bred and is owned locally by a syndicate featuring Anthony Mithen’s Rosemont Stud.

Withhold, who bled from both nostrils, and came home lame, is now automatically banned from racing for three months.