Champion Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse has only won the Melbourne Cup once, a memorable victory with Damien Oliver aboard Fiorente back in 2013.

Last year racing’s most powerful woman took Cismontane to the Cup on the back of some strong Moonee Valley form, however Waterhouse’s hopeful failed to run anywhere close to the placings finishing 13th.

This year, it’s Geelong Cup winner Runaway who will step back up to Group 1 level for just the second time at Flemington on Tuesday. The son of Manhattan Rain is one of five four-year old’s in this year’s Cup, and after beating home a pretty strong a fortnight ago in Geelong, Waterhouse likes her chances.

“We’re really happy with him going into the Cup,” Waterhouse said.

“He’ll be a 33-1 pop, 25-1 pop, but he’ll give them a great run for their money, both owners and the punters.”

Waterhouse is right when it comes to the odds, Runaway currently stands a $34 chance with Ladbrokes after drawing barrier 12 on Saturday.

As far as Runaway’s first crack at anything over 3,000m goes though, Waterhouse is simply happy just to feature in Australia’s greatest race.

“You just love to have a runner in it and we’re lucky enough to have one in it Australian born and bred by a sire that I trained, what a remarkable thing, so we’re thrilled” Waterhouse went on to say.

While a $31 chance winning the Cup would hardly surprise, it would be a shock to see Runaway win from barrier 12, with only two runners having done so in the past.

Runaway received a 1.5kg penalty following its win in the Geelong Cup, bumping the weight up 53.5kg. The last horse to win with that exact weight was Empire Rose in 1988.