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The all-in 2025 Melbourne Cup price on Valiant King to take out the 165th edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ has been slashed after his powerhouse win in the Group 3 $350,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.

Now exempt from ballot for the Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) back at headquarters on Tuesday November 4, the underrated Chris Waller trained stayer showed off his credentials for a crack at the two-mile classic when putting his rivals to bed by nearly three lengths on Turnbull Stakes Day.

Ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye McNeil, who rode Twilight Payment to victory in the world’s richest handicap back in 2020, Valiant King was emphatic second-up improving sharply after crossing dead last in his lead-up run when 18th behind Estadio Mestalla at Rosehill on August 30 over an unsuitably short 1500m distance.

“Fitness was our biggest concern which is why he held a nomination in the Turnbull as well as this,” Waller’s stable rep Charlie Duckworth explained.

“He was much better suited to this in terms of grade and also distance.

“We were really unlucky to miss the Sydney Cup in the autumn when he had a minor foot issue leading into it and we just thought he was primed and ready to go, but hey, it will be much better to win a Melbourne Cup than a Sydney Cup!”

Up in trip the Roaring Lion six-year-old came from well back to charge home over the final 300m flying past the front runners like it was nothing to bolt home by an official margin of 2.75 lengths as a forgotten 60/1 outsider.

Adding even more value to the quinella was the brave second of $71 roughie Torranzino, while Gilded Water ran third as the beaten favourite having sat in front a long way out from the line before being run down.

“He looked like being a tough horse to run down, but from the 300 (metres) I think everyone knew it was all over red rover,” Duckworth said.

“He’s a good horse and he’s got some great owners. He was bought for this reason and hopefully they had a fill up on the punt too.”

McNeil is now hoping he gets to stick with Valiant King, who is currently allocated 51kg in the Melbourne Cup weights as one of 14 first acceptors for Waller, for a crack at winning his second ‘Loving Trophy’.

“Let’s hope so,” he said.

“He’ll run well anyway. I won that race once before, you never know. I’m absolutely rapt.”

Almandin (2016) was the last galloper to complete The Bart Cummings – Melbourne Cup double.

The price on Valiant King, who looks every bit like he’ll eat up the 3200m, has been tightened dramatically at Ladbrokes from $101 to $26.

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