After an impressive Lexus Stakes win to make the field for the ‘race that stops a nation’ the question is now whether the Charlie Appleby-trained UK raider Oceanographer can be the Melbourne Cup 2016 winner?

Tuesday will be the third Australian start for the Godolphin-raced Sea The Stars gelding when Oceanographer lines-up as one of 24 hopefuls in the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The five-year-old was an eleventh hour inclusion in the Cup field, getting the ballot free ride into the world’s richest handicap with his Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) win on Derby Day.

That followed his third to stablemate and fellow Melbourne Cup hopeful, the fellow Appleby–trained Qewy, in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).

Qewy is at Melbourne Cup odds of $21 through Ladbrokes.com.au to join Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) as the latest winners of the Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double.

Oceanographer meanwhile is shorter in Melbourne Cup betting paying $8.50 to back-up from a Lexus win and take out the ‘Loving Trophy’ for the first time since Shocking (2009).

He jumps from barrier 11 with Chad Schofield coming aboard, the gate last producing a Melbourne Cup winner with the aforementioned French raider Americain six years ago.

A fortnight back Oceanographer could be found at $101 in Melbourne Cup markets, but the smart Lexus Stakes success has his price firming fast after he ran down the frontrunner Tom Melbourne in flying late sectional times on Saturday.

Completing his final 200m in the Lexus in 11.41 seconds, Oceanographer has a slashing turn of foot that could have him finishing in the money in the Melbourne Cup results.

But can he win?

2016 Melbourne Cup Horse Form #20 Oceanographer

Barrier: 11

Weight: 52kg

Jockey: Chad Schofield

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Owner/s: Godolphin Management Co. Ltd.

Age: 5YO

Gender: Gelding

Breeding: by Sea The Stars (IRE) from Que Puntual (ARG)

Career: 11-4-1-1

Win: 36%

Place: 69%

Last 6: 017×31

Prize Money: $272,127

Track: 1-1-0-0

Distance: 0-0-0-0

Current 2016 Melbourne Cup Odds: $8.50

Why Oceanographer Can Complete the Lexus Stakes – Melbourne Cup Double

• Barrier 11 gives him options in the run and has produced four Melbourne Cup winners (since 1983) – the most of any barrier in that time
• Barrier 11 is also the most successful in Melbourne Cup history with eight winners
• Internationals have a strong recent record in the Melbourne Cup including recent wins by Protectionist (2014), Dunaden (2011) and Americain (2010)
• Is a genuine lightweight hope getting in on 52kg, two kilos less than his Lexus Stakes winning weight
• Trainer Charlie Appleby has been enjoying great success in the staying spring races in Melbourne this season including taking out the Geelong Cup – Bendigo Cup double
• Five-year-old males have the best record in the Melbourne Cup all-up with 41 wins
• Has winning form at the Flemington track

Why Oceanographer Won’t be the 2016 Melbourne Cup Winner

• No Melbourne Cup winner has carried exactly 52kg to victory since Ethereal (2001)
• Chad Schofield has never ridden the horse or a previous Melbourne Cup winner
• Is one of the most lightly-raced in the field with just 11 starts to date and has won only $272,127 in prize money
• Is yet to step out over the 3200m Melbourne Cup distance

Think Oceanographer is deserving of his single-figure price in Melbourne Cup 2016 betting and want to back him for the win? Head to Ladbrokes.com.au and enjoy Odds Boost taking his winning price above the $8.50 fixed win offering!