Symon Wilde’s class staying mare Tralee Rose further secured her spot in the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup field with a tough win for the punters over Dr Drill in Wednesday’s 2021 Geelong Cup results.

Tralee Rose (pictured at Flemington) further solidified her spot in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field with victory in the Geelong Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The nicely-bred Tavistock five-year-old was already assured of a run in the 24-starter Melbourne Cup field at Flemington on Tuesday November 2 sitting 22^nd on the order of entry and put the writing on the wall for the two-mile classic saluting in the Group 3 $400,000 Geelong Cup (2400m).

Going one better than her lead-up second to Grand Promenade in Flemington’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) from a wide draw, Tralee Rose was given a perfectly timed ride in the Geelong Cup by Dean Holland drawing clear the final 100m and holding off the fast-finishing runner-up.

Although the winning margin over the brave runner-up Dr Drill ($21), who was excellent at a big price for the Maher/Eustace stable, was narrow it was exactly the return to winning form her Warrnambool-based trainer Wilde was hoping to see as she heads towards the ‘race that stops a nation’.

“She had her first start here at Geelong,” he told the media post-race.

“To come back a bit over 12 months later and win the Geelong Cup and be a top-five hope in the Melbourne Cup … it’s what you dream of.”

The Sue Murphy-trained Hasta La War ($5) finished a distant third in the Geelong Cup trifecta a further three lengths away, adding further merit to the win.

Fourth behind Good Idea over the two-miles in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) earlier this year, the Geelong Cup victory was the first for Tralee Rose since her 3.5 length romp home in Morphettville’s Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) back in February.

Tralee Rose also became just the third mare since Koiro Corrie May (1985) to win the Geelong Cup joining Leica Ding (2009) and Oregon Star (1997).

Fit and now full of confidence, she heads back to HQ on November 2 for a shot at the world’s richest handicap chasing the Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double last completed by Dunaden (2011).

Denis Pagan meanwhile has since confirmed he has shelved Melbourne Cup plans for his Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry after the horse finished over 20 lengths back 12^th in the Geelong Cup results.

Currently Tralee Rose is allocated just 51kg in the Melbourne Cup weights with Wilde now awaiting to see what penalty she receives for her Geelong Cup success.

Tralee Rose is into $17 in the pre-field Melbourne Cup 2021 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here – that are dominated by Peter Moody’s impressive Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise ($2.50).

2021 Geelong Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.