Sydney stayer Kelinni won his way into Tuesday's Melbourne Cup with a tough victory in the Group Three Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The five-year-old entered the race in 38th place in the order of entry for the Cup, but will now move straight into Tuesday's showcase given the automatic qualification clause from the Lexus Stakes.
It didn't appear to be the classiest of victories, but Kelinni found enough in the final 200m under the urges of veteran jockey Nash Rawiller to hold off the fast-finishing Dare To Dream, while Exceptionally was beaten into third.
"It was a great effort by this horse," Rawiller said after the race.
"He showed today, what we've known all along, that he is a genuine stayer and he certainly deserves to be there on Tuesday."
The race has proven a good formline for the Melbourne Cup in the past, with recent winners such as Shocking (2009) and Brew (2000) all having done the Lexus Stakes-Melbourne Cup double in the space of four days.
Bookmakers reacted quickly after the race by firming Kelinni in from $151 to $21 to win the Melbourne Cup and his job became easier moments after the triumph when chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announced the Chris Waller-trained galloper would not be penalised for the victory.
Waller was thrilled with Kelinni's effort and is excited about the prospect of now having a certain runner in the Cup.
"It's a great feeling to be part of the race and this has proven to be a pretty good form race in the past," Waller said.
"This preparation he has really gone to the next level and whatever happens on Tuesday is a bonus."
Kelinni's victory made it two wins from two races for Sydney jockeys on the first day of the Flemington carnival, after Hugh Bowman took out the opening event on the card with Lunar Rise.
Lunar Rise's win in the Carbine Club Stakes also franks the form for It's A Dundeel in the Victoria Derby, with the Kiwi galloper having beaten Lunar Rise by almost 10 lengths last start.