It’s hard to imagine there is a more popular horse in Chris Waller’s stable than Winx but Who Shot Thebarman is right up there.
The nine-year-old has cemented a place in his fourth Melbourne Cup with victory in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) over his stablemate Libran who also heads to Flemington.
“In the stable he’s just as popular as Winx,” Waller said.
“What more does that say.
“He means so much to the staff and it shows if you look after them they will perform for you.
“He will run in in the Melbourne Cup for a fourth time.
The first time he ran third. The second time he was knocked over and almost fell. The third time he ran fifth.
“He ran second in the Sydney Cup only six months ago.
“Libran will also run. He is raced by Highclere and that’s the race they’ve targeted.
“And one of his part-owners is Victoria Racing Club chair Amanda Elliott and she will want to run in their big race.”
Who Shot Thebarman ($8.50) settled second last of the seven runners in the Cup (2500m) and came home strongly under Blake Shinn to beat Libran ($10) by a half head with the same margin to Cismonte ($8.50).
Favourite Big Duke ($1.95) was fourth after being pocketed on the fence.
Who Shot Thebarman finished second to his stablemate Grand Marshal in last year’s Moonee Valley Cup and his win was his first in almost two years since the 2015 Zipping Classic.
Handicapper Greg Carpenter said he would not give Who Shot Thebarman any increase in weight for the Melbourne Cup in which he has 54kg.
The TAB firmed Who Shot Thebarman from $61 to $34 in Melbourne Cup odds.
