Mr Monaco booked his place in the 2026 Melbourne Cup with a tough and timely victory in Saturday’s Group 3 $350,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, handing trainer Ciaron Maher another major spring success and earning the prized ballot exemption into Australia’s greatest race.

The imported five-year-old son of Territories arrived in Melbourne looking to rediscover his best form after a couple of below-par performances, but a switch in plans and rain-affected conditions proved the catalyst for a return to form as he powered home to defeat race favourite Litzdeel by 1¼ lengths, with Valiant King another four lengths away in third.

The Lexus Bart Cummings | Mr Monaco

Mr Monaco punches his ticket to the Melbourne Cup! ??? The 6YO also completes a TREBLE for @cmaherracing ?

? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
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— Racing.com (@Racing) October 3, 2026

Starting at $8, Mr Monaco was given a confident and positive ride by emerging jockey Jabez Johnstone, who settled the gelding prominently before producing a strong finishing effort to claim the traditional Melbourne Cup qualifier and secure his place in the field for the first Tuesday in November.

For Maher, the win marked another significant step towards the Cups and provided a breakthrough moment for young rider Johnstone, whose rise through the ranks continued on one of racing’s biggest stages.

“It’s very thrilling,” the star horseman said after recording his third victory on Turnbull Stakes Day, said.

“It’s exciting to get another one into the Cup, but Jabez, he’s a little ripper.

“He’s been a revelation since coming across. My General Manager Sam Lefebvre follows the Tassie racing down there having worked over there.

“He said ‘this kid is going places and we need to get him’. Fortunately he has been fantastic.

“He works hard. I get on with him quite well. He’s usually a man of few words and I don’t mind that either.

“It was a good positive ride and he’s strong.”

Maher admitted confidence in the gelding had been boosted earlier in the day after stablemate Juja Kibo won The Metropolitan at Randwick, given the pair had previously raced together.

“The horse had been a little bit out of form, but before that he and Juju Kibo had run together and with Juju winning The Metropolitan, it gave me a bit of confidence,” he said.

“He did have good wet form, so we thought we’d send him down the highway and now he’s here in Melbourne and has got a ticket.

“There’s a great ownership group and they’re in the Cup.

“The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup is the most thrilling time for the owners.

“The build up, it’s nearly better than the race.”

The Bart Cummings was not originally intended to be Mr Monaco’s spring target, with connections instead considering a Sydney path, but changing weather conditions quickly altered those plans.

“The Metrop was his aim, but when the weather came, on Wednesday, at acceptances, that’s when we travel our horses,” Maher explained.

“That’s when we made the call and thankfully, we did.”

For Johnstone, the victory delivered a career highlight and further strengthened his growing association with Maher’s powerhouse stable.

“I just can’t thank Ciaron, the whole team, the owners, enough,” the apprentice hoop said.

“Massive thrill and we saw today up in trip and with the moderate speed we could be more forward. What a tough win.”

The young jockey said the addition of blinkers and the horse’s ability to relax during the run were key factors in the result.

“Once we claimed our position, he really just relaxed and dropped the bridle at a critical time when we needed to at about the 800-metre mark, he really stepped it up,” he said.

“A massive thrill and I just can’t thank Ciaron and the team enough.”

Still soaking in the occasion, Johnstone reflected on his rapid rise since arriving in Victoria.

“It is unbelievable. It still doesn’t feel real being here in Melbourne riding for Ciaron Maher and having great success as well. I’m forever grateful. It is amazing.”

The victory adds to an already impressive campaign for Mr Monaco, who won the Group 3 N E Manion Cup earlier this year, and it now provides connections with the luxury of planning a Melbourne Cup preparation knowing their place in the field for the $10.2 million two-mile classic is secured.

Mr Monaco is currently rated a $26 chance in futures Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes after guaranteeing his start in the 3200m feature.

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

With proven staying credentials, a liking for rain-affected tracks and a ticket already punched to the race that stops a nation, Mr Monaco has emerged as one of the more intriguing Melbourne Cup prospects of the spring following his decisive Bart Cummings success.