Jaameh missed out narrowly in this year’s Melbourne Cup final acceptances, but the Lindsay Park six-year old made up for it by winning the $300,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Up since July, Jaameh entered the race as the $3.00 favourite with Ladbrokes, and after tracking along the inside five-off the pace, hit the line strongly to win by a nose over Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s hopeful Sully. 

Having now made seven starts this prep, three of which have been wins at Flemington, Jaameh enjoyed a patient ride from jockey Mark Zahra, who more than made up for last weekend’s third-placing in the Group 3 Hotham Handicap.

“I sort of just saved ground the whole way, I was lucky it opened up the inside,” Zahra said after the race.

Sully, who wasn’t disgraced running second, showed tremendous turn of foot on the outside to go stride for stride with Jaameh over the final 100m.

“He (Sully) went out, I went in, and I reckon he had a length on me, we had him rock hard fit, it was only the last 25 meters I got the upper hand” Zahra went on to say.

Although unproven at the distance, there’s no doubt Jaameh would have ran strongly in Tuesday’s two-mile Melbourne Cup. The short backup never seemed to worry trainer’s David and Ben Hayes, as well as Tom Dabernig, as all three were confident on his chances.

“We were very confident if he got in the Cup, and hopefully this time next year” Dabernig stated after the race.

With 2019 Melbourne Cup betting open just moments after Cross Counter’s win on Tuesday, Jaameh has opened as an $81 chance with Ladbrokes. 

“I think that might be enough to get him in, he’s a genuine two miler, and we haven’t got to two mile yet, what won that was his staying ability, he’s a quality horse that’s backed up” David Hayes said.

Jaameh has continued to improve throughout this long and arduous prep, a full credit to the Lindsay Park team. A maiden race at Group 1 level in the near future is a certainty, while a spot in next year’s Melbourne Cup remains a real possibility.