THE Melbourne Cup is just one of a number of options ‘on the table’ for Sons And Lovers after appreciating a step up to a mile and a half to take the Group 3 Tote Ballyroan Stakes, the highlight of a double for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

The 6/5 favourite made all the running and after being strongly pressed by chief market rival Crystal Black from over a furlong out, proved the stronger in the closing stages to score by half a length with Siege Of Troy the same distance further back in third.