The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup is calling for the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Irish expat, Point King, who was brave late fending off his rivals win the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) and secure the next Golden Ticket into the world’s richest handicap.

2024 Lexus Archer Stakes winner Point King has earned a ballot free ride into the Melbourne Cup race. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Formerly prepared in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, the respected Zoffany six-year-old put the writing on the wall for a big spring bid down under when given a peach of a ride by Jamie Kah to steal the Lexus Archer Stakes 2024 at Flemington on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

“It was a good win. Jamie gave him a great ride. She’s in good form, Jamie,” stable representative Nick Williams told the media post-win.

The race, formerly run on Victoria Derby Day just three days before the iconic Melbourne Cup, offers the winner a ballot exemption into the two-mile classic.

It ran earlier on the spring program this year for the first time and saw Point King race his way into contention for the Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday November 5.

Point King was transferred from O’Brien to the care of Kris Lees for who he had one run for when crossing a well-beaten eighth to Golden Path at Randwick in late May.

He then debuted for Team Freedman on August 24 at The Valley and was impressive claiming a Benchmark 100 over 2040m by 3.75 lengths, albeit carrying just 53kg to victory.

Today in the Lexus he carted 54kg on the wet track that was downgraded to a Heavy (8) just before the race.

Kah had her mount well positioned throughout before surging to the front up the middle of the track with 250m to go.

“I was exactly where I wanted to be. Last start it was a blessing because he was a bit slow away. He’s a real thinker, this horse and I think with horses in front of him to chase down it really sparks him up,” Kah said.

“He’s got the class. He’s a very classy animal. When he gets around these horses it really sparks him up.

“He’s got all the talent in the world but he’s a real thinker. Once he sorts his brain out, he’ll be right in the race.”

The Symon Wilde-trained Hit The Road Jack ($19) gave a good chase and never gave up but ultimately finished a half-length second to the winner.

“I thought once he got to the front he looked to idle a bit to me,” Williams said.

“I know that there’s often been thoughts of headgear on him and that could be an option down the track. He’s done a good job there and stepping up from 2000-metres at Moonee Valley, it is a sold 2500-metres at Flemington and to do that today, in a genuinely run race in the conditions, I thought he did a good job.

“He’s a horse we’ve thought a lot of. We bought him as a yearling. He’s by Zoffany. That year we bought three Zoffanys. A good friend of mine in the northern hemisphere talked us into it as we wouldn’t normally buy Zoffanys.

“I sold one of them and his name is Fawkner Park. Two out of the three have been pretty good and one of them won a big mile race in Ireland.

“He’s a horse we like. He’s still on the up and he’s lightly raced. He put four in-a-row together over there at lower grade and up to listed level. Any horse that wins four in-a-row at any level is a good horse.

“Probably better on top of the ground.”

The also Melbourne Cup-bound Berkshire Breeze for Ciaron Maher ran third as the beaten $3.40 favourite 1.65 lengths off Point King.

Point King has now firmed into $21 in the latest all-in Melbourne Cup 2024 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Click here for the full markets.

2024 Lexus Archer Stakes Results & Finishing Order

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