This year’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer – jockey duo of Gai Waterhouse and Damien Oliver kept the feature wins going in Victoria over the weekend winning Sunday’s Ballarat Cup 2013 with race favourite The Offer.

Jockey Damien Oliver completed the Melbourne Cup - Ballarat Cup 2013 double this spring. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

After breaking her Melbourne Cup maiden with punters’ pick Fiorente saluting in the $6 million classic at the start of the month, Waterhouse capped off a brilliant spring carnival taking out the $200,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m).

Having run two good races over 1600m and 1800m respectively earlier this prep, imported Montjeu four-year-old The Offer broke their maiden status down under in fine style with the win.

Previously prepared by Aiden O’Brien, The Offer had had five previous starts in Australia for Waterhouse but hadn’t won a race since October of 2012 back in Europe.

It didn’t stop the bookies backing them to win as the horse jumped $4 favourite in the Ballarat Cup markets with the known mudlark relishing the Heavy track and muddy conditions.

“Gai’s brought this horse down at the right time,” Oliver told Racing Victoria.

“He’s certainly on the way up when some horses might be coming to the end of their tether.

“He really enjoyed that soft track. Coming into the straight he was going OK but when I put the foot down he really extended and I think he can win a very good race on soft ground.

“It’s been fantastic (combining with Waterhouse) and it’s nice to get on some quality horses.”

They proved the predictions right with Oliver guiding them to an all-too-easy three and a quarter length victory over the Tony McEvoy-trained Pelicano ($9.50) who was runner-up for the second year in a row.

The eventual winner was posted three wide throughout but had cover and put themselves into the race just ahead of the home turn.

On the straight they moved up to join the frontrunners and had plenty left in the tank to pull away and take the lead, which they continued to extend until the end, with 200m left.

A 54kg lightweight proved the winning advantage for The Offer with Pelicano, ridden by Luke Nolen, carrying the equal 60kg topweight along with the fourth placed Hurdy Gurdy Man.

With Brad Rawiller, winning jockey of the past three Ballarat Cups, aboard the Darren Weir-trained Hurdy Gurdy Man ($16) was four lengths off the winner after jumping from the far outside barrier.

It was a top Ballarat Cup result not only for Waterhouse and Oliver but also for part-owner John Bongiorno, quick to credit Sunday’s ride from Oliver, who also has a share in this year’s Melbourne Cup champion Fiorente.

“It’s been a great association with Gai, we’ve become good friends over the years and how great of a trainer is she and how great is Damien Oliver?” he said post-win.

See below for the full Ballarat Cup 2013 results, then, when you’re ready to place your next late season bet head to Ladbrokes.com.au where all the best horse racing odds and offers can be found.

2013 Ballarat Cup Results & Finishing Order

Ballarat Race 8 – 24/11/2013