TWO of Chris Waller’s Emirates Melbourne Cup hopeful’s put their best cases forward last Saturday to take first and second in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. The 2,500 metres came down to a three-quarters of a length margin as the British-bred Dansili gelding Grand Marshall defeated his more favoured stablemate, the New Zealand-bred Yamanin Vital gelding Who Shot Thebarman. Third was the Pentire gelding Pentathlon.
“That was pleasing to see with a view to the Melbourne Cup as these are two typical two-milers,” said Waller. “In the old days they would be right up there in contention for a Melbourne Cup but it’s a lot tougher now with the overseas horses. But we’re going to have fun trying anyway.”

Grand Marshall, out of the 2002 Irish Oaks winner Margarula, has won over 3,200 metres, landing the 2015 Sydney Cup, while Who Shot Thebarman was third in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Both were unplaced in last year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup.