How have Lexus Archer Stakes winners fared in the Melbourne Cup?
Kalapour was a dominant winner of the $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and it earned itself a trip to Flemington on Tuesday.
The Lexus Stakes winner gains a ballot exemption for the Group 1 $8.41 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) back at the track just three days later, with Shocking was the last to complete the double in 2009.
More recently the 2018 Lexus Stakes winner Prince Of Arran ran third in the Melbourne Cup.
The 2023 Lexus Archer Stakes was run on Saturday November 4, 2023 as a final lead-up into the Melbourne Cup and saw the Kris Lees-trained Kalapour lead all-the-way off a gun ride by Damien Oliver to earn his spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field on November 7.
The seven-year-old gelding, who came off back-to-back Sydney thirds in the Group 1 The Metropolitan and St. Leger, extended his lead in the Lexus with a furlong to go to become exempt from Melbourne Cup ballot.
Kalapour was 27th on the order of entry before his victory.
Previous Lexus / Melbourne Cup Doubles: Shocking 2009
Shocking won the 2009 Lexus Stakes before subsequently winning the Melbourne Cup three days later.
The son of Street Cry was one of the most surprising Cup winners in recent history as it hadn’t won since May of 2009. During that run, Shocking finished ninth in a handicap race at Moonee Valley, but he quickly turned that form around.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained runner was purchased for only $64,000 and it soon won its connections that money back by placing in three consecutive races before winning the Lexus Stakes against only an average field.
Despite the average field of the Lexus, Shocking showed why that form should be respected by travelling three-wide throughout the 2009 Melbourne Cup and scoring by just under a length.
Shocking would later go on to win the Makybe Diva Stakes and the 2011 Australian Cup before retiring immediately for stud.
Previous Lexus / Melbourne Cup Doubles: Brew – 2000
It was a long time between drinks for Lexus Stakes winners succeeding in the Melbourne Cup, but Bred broke that drought in the new millennium.
The Michael Moroney-trained Kiwi runner was the first Lexus Stakes/Melbourne Cup winner since Think Big won the double in 1974. It was the lesser-fancied runner from the stable, with Second Coming getting all the attention, but Brew finished off best.
Much like Shocking, Bred had shown form in the lead-up to the Lexus Stakes – which was known as the Saab Quality – before winning the Japan Trophy and placing in the Moonee Valley Cup. Those performances didn’t qualify for the Melbourne Cup, but Brew was back two weeks later to win the Lexus.
The $15 chance with bookmakers got into the Melbourne Cup with only 49kg on its back and it wasn’t overly popular with Melbourne Cup punters after drawing barrier 22, but it stormed to the front in the shadows of the post to score a quality win.
Previous Lexus / Melbourne Cup Doubles: Think Big – 1974
Think Big is one of the most popular Melbourne Cup winners in history and that history might not have been written had it not won the 1974 Lexus Stakes (Hotham Handicap).
The Bart Cummings-trained stayer had won five races from 15 starts as a three-year-old and its third placing in the Brisbane Cup showed its staying credentials. It started as the second elect in the Melbourne Cup behind stablemate Leilani, but Think Big was too good for them.
It added its name to multiple winners of the Melbourne Cup by winning again in 1975 as a $34 chance and despite not winning a race in between Melbourne Cups, it showed why it’s one of the Australian Melbourne Cup greats.
The above three winners show why it’s possible for Lexus Stakes winners to win the Melbourne Cup three days later and Cismontane is still paying $40 at Neds.com.au to recreate history this Tuesday.
2023 Melbourne Cup odds
Flemington - Race 7
Lexus Melbourne Cup
Status: Final
Track Rating: Good4
Weather: Overcast
AUS
3200m
03:00pm - Tue 7th Nov
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace