Local Flemington-based trainer Saab Hassan confirmed they would “keep the dream alive” this season and nominate promising stayer Shoreham for the Melbourne Cup 2014 on the first Tuesday of November.

While still needing to be convinced they’re up to the class of the ‘race that stops a nation’ Hassan said they, like the connections of any stayer with any hope of making the 24-horse field, would nominate their horse for the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).

“We’re still going to nominate for the Melbourne Cup to keep the dream alive,” Hassan told RSN’s Racing Network this morning.

Melbourne Cup nominations close in early September but already futures markets are open at Ladbrokes.com.au with Shoreham a $101 roughie.

Those outside Melbourne Cup odds aren’t unwarranted either according to Hassan who knows the horse has a long way to go to prove they are good enough for a start in the world’s richest handicap.

They’ve been back in work for around five weeks now and Hassan is thrilled with how they’ve come through their spell.

“Flying,” was how he described their condition.

“Come back in great condition and held his weight really, really well.

“I’m confident we’ll see the best out of him this year.”

To date Shoreham has won just three of their 22 starts, the most recent of which was first-up in September last year in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington.

Group 1 performed when third to Escado in last year’s South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville, their spring campaign ended last October on Cox Plate Day.

There they ran a luckless second to Precedence in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) when blocked for a run, a race that is also an option for their new season campaign.

Shoreham had hit and miss form during the autumn but did all their best racing went stepped up in distance.

Their most recent effort was fourth to Unchain My Heart in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) on May 24 where they carried a hefty 60kg for their maiden two mile run.

It was that effort that first ignited the Melbourne Cup dream of Hassan who hopes they learn how to settle in time for a run in the other two mile major at Flemington.

“Realistically he needs to learn how to settle,” Hassan said.

“We’ll nominate (for the Melbouren Cup) like everyone else.

“But he may not be good enough to run in it.”

If they don’t prove to be a genuine Melbourne Cup hope this year, Hassan said there were plenty of other options.

Along with the Moonee Valley Cup on October 25 other possible races for Shoreham include the $300,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 or the $250,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Emirates Stakes Day, November 8.

Check out the full Melbourne Cup betting odds and futures options online now at Ladbrokes.com.au who offer incredible early bird Melbourne Cup promos every week.

This week it is $21 for any Chris Waller runner to win the Melbourne Cup!

But bets need to be placed between 10am and 12pm this Saturday, August 2, to cash in on the offer.