Ciaron Maher & David Eustace look to have another runner heading towards the Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7 with Interpretation taking out Wednesday’s 2023 Bendigo Cup in the final stride for the punters.

High Emocean (pictured) won last year’s Bendigo Cup before a third in the Melbourne Cup results for the Maher/Eustace stable. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The stable won the same race last year with class mare High Emocean who went on to run a brave third behind her winning stablemate, Gold Trip, in the Melbourne Cup trifecta.

It was back-to-back wins for the team in the Group 3 $500,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m) this spring with the heavily-backed favourite Interpretation narrowly getting over the top of a gallant Brayden Star in a thrilling finish.

Jockey Michael Dee, who is booked to ride the Kris Lees-trained Cleveland in the Melbourne Cup field next week, gave the Bendigo Cup winner a peach of a ride one-off throughout.

The horse, a six-year-old son of Galileo, began well and got clear galloping room settled just better than midfield as last start Moe Cup winner Suizuro set a cracking pace up in front.

Dee couldn’t have given Interpretation a better run in transit before hitting the button early taking the favourite to the outside to begin his run approaching the turn for home.

The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Brayden Star, coming off a Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes seventh to Military Mission at Caulfield, was in for the fight and gave a late lunge.

It was Interpretation ($2.70F) who just held on to take home the glory however, much to the relief of co-trainer Ciaron Maher who gave a little salute as his horse went over the line first.

The fast-finishing Taramansour for Phillip Stokes completed the Bendigo Cup trifecta in a photo for third.

It had been an eternity between wins for Interpretation who broke a winning drought of 811 days.

The horse failed to finish in the Melbourne Cup last year but 12 months on is now a Bendigo Cup winner and may just be lining-up for another shot at the ‘race that stops a nation’ on the first Tuesday of November.

“Great job by the team,” Maher told Racing.com post-win.

“The horse was a colt last year when he ran in the (Melbourne) Cup and it didn’t really go to plan.

“He’s a gelding now and I think he’s a lot more genuine.

“I thought he just presented super today.

“Mickey Dee had to go back from a wide gate, but gave him a beautiful ride today

“He needed all of his strength to get him over the line.”

Interpretation was 31^st on the Melbourne Cup order of entry with 50kg before the Bendigo Cup results but should be able now to sneak up the ballot and gain a start.

“That should hopefully get him up a couple of places and hopefully he can take his spot,” Maher said.

“That’s what we always bought him for.

“To sneak him in on the minimum (weight) that’s the idea of trying to win a Cup and hopefully he can.

“He’s certainly in good form.

“High Emocean ran really well out of this race last year and hopefully he can do the same.”

Interpretation currently pays $41 in the latest all-in Melbourne Cup 2023 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The other potential runners for the team in next Tuesday’s great race are: last year’s winner Gold Trip, recent The Bart Cummings champ Future History, Right You Are, Ashrun to be ridden by three-time Melbourne Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy, and Saturday’s Lexus Archer Stakes runner at Flemington United Nations who is right on the cusp of a start.

The Melbourne Cup final acceptances close at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday with the official field and barrier draw to be conducted live from Flemington soon after the Derby Day racing action.

Click here for the latest all-in Melbourne Cup markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Bendigo Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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