Ciaron Maher continues to build a strong Melbourne Cup hand and will add another to his team come the first Tuesday in November with Okita Soushi, who took out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday night.

Okita Soushi ($11) was afforded a soft run just off the pace by Billy Egan who took over in the straight to hold off Serpentine ($6) by half a length, with the New Zealand trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($19) working home well for third just ahead of race favourite Francesco Guardi.

The former import came to Melbourne last year for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups when trained by Joseph O’Brien, finishing 11th at Flemington behind Without A Fight before transferring to the Maher stable.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull believes the son of Galileo has just needed to build his fitness and get over a staying trip to flourish, having finished second in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last start.

“He’s just a classic stayer that wants twelve furlongs. Once you get him to that level, and at a level of fitness, he excels. He showed that last start, and he’s gone on and done it again today. He’s in really good form,” Turnbull said.

Prior to the race, Okita Soushi was 34th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup but will make it safely into the field with Turnbull confirming that has been the plan all along.

“It’s always been the long-term plan when he came to us off the back of his last campaign in spring. It’s really good and pleasing when things work out in terms of timing.”

Meanwhile, the stable hasn’t given up hope of Saint George making the Melbourne Cup field, Turnbull pleased to see the grey, who sits 31st in the order of entry, running on well late for fifth.

“Saw a bit of grey flashing light, which is fantastic. He’s a few spots higher than Okita. With attrition, there’s every chance that he might sneak in because that’s what we wanted to see,” Turnbull said,

The Ciaron Maher stable have seven runners still entered for the Melbourne Cup 2024, with Okita Soushi now a $26 chance with gambling companies.

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