Leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle three horses in Tuesday’s race that stops a nation, but remains particularly bullish of the chances of Preferment and rates the talented four-year-old as his 2015 Melbourne Cup tip.

Preferment has been a standout stayer for Waller since storming onto the Australian racing scene as a three-year-old through the 2014 edition of the Spring Carnival; highlighted by a close second in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) and his maiden race win in the featured Group 1 Victoria Derby (2400m) in November.

Having returned to racing in typically slick form this time, Waller has been thrilled with the work produced by the classy son of Zabeel since a luckless run for ninth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) most recently on October 24^th and rates the horse as his best chance of 2015 Melbourne Cup success.

“Of my runners, he has the ‘wow’ factor,” Waller said this week.

Preferment returned to racing in competitive racing this year without being able to return to winning form through the Autumn Carnival; placing second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) most notably across four starts.

Clearly needing the run and more distance when 12^th in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) first-up this time, Preferment returned to winning form in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) on September 19^th before posting a second win at the highest level in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in his only other start prior to the Cox Plate.

Waller will also saddle Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshall in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, who quinellad the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on Day 2 of The Championships earlier this year.

“He ran third in this race last year and second in the Sydney Cup,” Waller said of Who Shot Thebarman.

“We know he can stay.

“He beat Who Shot Thebarman to win the Sydney Cup. One thing we know with the pair of them is the distance is no problem,” he added of Grand Marshall.

Preferment will leave from the central barrier 11 with Hugh Bowman aboard in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, while Who Shot TheBarman (barrier 6) and Grand Marshall (barrier 15) and also positioned for good performances.

Ladbrokes.com.au is currently offering the best 2015 Melbourne Cup odds, for which Preferment remains outright third-favourite at a quote of $11.

Who Shot Thebarman has drifted to Melbourne Cup odds of $21, while Grand Marshal figures as a legitimate long-odds chance at a quote of $41.

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