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A crucial final lead-up to the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ takes place at Ladbrokes Geelong on Wednesday with the latest running of the time-honoured Group 3 $500,000 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m).

The latest horses – all internationals – to complete the Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double are Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010), and Dunaden (2011).

Last year’s Geelong Cup runner-up Ashrun meanwhile finished a credible fourth in the Melbourne Cup results behind Without A Fight proving the event really can be the ‘Gateway to Glory’.

This year the favourite in Geelong Cup betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes is the Chris Waller-trained Birdman at $4.20 and firming with the lightly raced import drawn a treat in gate four for Beau Mertens.

The Free Eagle four-year-old debuts down under at his fifth career start looking to emulate some of the great raiders before him in saluting fresh in the Geelong Cup.

Birdman is currently 36th on the latest order of entry for the iconic Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) run at Flemington on Tuesday November 5 and he pays $34 in all-in Melbourne Cup markets.

Waller saddles-up five in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup field chasing his first win in the event with Birdman joined in the starting line-up by stablemates El Bodegon ($51), Manzoice ($17), Francesco Guardi ($9.50) drawn barrier 15 for two-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra, and his other best fancied runner Unusual Legacy ($5.50) to be ridden by the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.

Unusual Legacy brings in a strong form line having run third at Randwick last time out behind another gun Waller stayer, Land Legend, in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m).

Land Legend franked that form last Saturday when third in the Caulfield Cup trifecta for the stable.

Another runner at a current quote of $5.50 is the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Muramasa who was scratched from the Caulfield Cup field due to the rain-affected track.

Jockey Daniel Moor continues associations on the Deep Impact gelding third-up on Wednesday with the horse carrying 56.5kg from gate eight.

Danny O’Brien‘s 2019 Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare, still racing at nine, has his 48th start carrying the 58kg topweight in this year’s Geelong Cup.

Caulfield Cup winning horseman Ciaron Maher meanwhile has two runners with his last start Group 2 Herbert Power winner Herman Hesse ($16) chasing a hat-trick and outside hope Interpretation ($31).

The Phillip Stokes-trained Amade is third-up defending his Geelong Cup title looking to be the first dual champion since Roseview (1912 & 1914) and history’s first on back-to-back years.

He comes off a narrow third under a half-length beaten by Just Fine in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) and could prove the value runner on Wednesday at $13 with Daniel Stackhouse riding.

There will also be plenty of eyes on The Map with the already-qualified Melbourne Cup contender having her final lead-up before the big one next month.

Jamie Kah comes off the South Australian in the Melbourne Cup in favour of a ride on Point King but will be aboard on Wednesday with the six-year-old mare looking to improve on her Herbert Power sixth.

The 2024 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup is set to run as Geelong Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEDT).

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.