John Gosden's Gatewood may yet secure himself a place in the Melbourne Cup after being nominated for the Mackinnon Stakes and the Lexus Stakes.
After finishing a luckless seventh on his Australian debut in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield, the four-year-old ran out a comfortable winner of the Geelong Cup on Wednesday.
Despite picking up a 1kg penalty for that victory, Gatewood is currently 36th on the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup and the maximum field for the prestigious handicap is 24.
However, both the Mackinnon and the Lexus offer the winner ballot exemption into the 'race that stops a nation' just three days later.
Part-owner Terry Henderson told www.racingvictoria.net.au: "We have to weigh up whether the potential increase of Gatewood's value as a stallion makes it worth running in the Mackinnon.
"If we think it isn't the best option for his Melbourne Cup chances then we will run in the Lexus.
"Backing him up shouldn't be an issue as he has just come through the run at Geelong so well."
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