Charlie Appleby’s Geelong Cup third placed raider Oceanographer is the early favourite to win the Lexus Stakes 2016 on Derby Day this Saturday and make the Melbourne Cup field three days later.

English raider Oceanographer is early favourite to win the 2016 Lexus Stakes and make next week’s Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winner of the $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) earns a ballot free ride into the ‘race that stops a nation’, with the $6 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) run on Tuesday November 1.

Shocking (2009) was the last Lexus Stakes – Melbourne Cup double winner, a feat a number of stayers are out to emulate this spring.

Due to run as Flemington Race 4 at 1:40pm (AEDT) this weekend, the Lexus Stakes field has attracted a dozen final acceptors.

Of those the current favourite in Lexus Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Godolphin-raced Oceanographer ($3.70).

Drawn gate eight with the in-form Kerrin McEvoy to ride on the 54kg minimum, the UK galloper has just his second run down under.

On debut in Australia last week he finished under a length behind his winning stablemate Qewy when third in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).

Qewy looks set to make the Melbourne Cup field after the news another Appleby-trained hopeful, Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish would bypass the race in favour of a weight-for-age run in the $2 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m).

Moving up to 24^th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry, Qewy is in danger of being pushed back down outside the Melbourne Cup field limit with a win by Oceanographer in the Lexus Stakes.

McEvoy rode Qewy to victory in the Geelong Cup, as well as Francis Of Assisi for Godolphin in this Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup, and now looks to keep his good strike rate on the raiders in the Royal Blue silks going with Oceanographer in the Lexus.

The other top fancies in the Lexus Stakes odds are the Darren Weir-trained Real Love ($4.40) and the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained import Tom Melbourne ($4.50) drawn in barriers five and two respectively.

A former WA-trained mare boasting wins in races such as the Perth Cup and more recently the JRA Cup, Real Love comes off a fifth to Jameka in the Caulfield Cup.

She is guaranteed a run in the Melbourne Cup sitting 16^th on the ballot should trainer Weir, who won the race with $101 roughie Prince Of Penzance 12 months ago, opt to back her up.

Tom Melbourne has been hit and miss down under since arriving in Australia for OTI Racing, the Dylan Thomas six-year-old producing his best run last time out when runner-up in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

He only goes up a half-kilo to 54.5kg on Saturday with triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss coming aboard in place of Dwayne Dunn in barrier two.

Unlike Real Love, Tom Melbourne needs the Melbourne Cup ballot exemption currently yet to qualify for the iconic clash well down the order of entry.

Other key Lexus Stakes chances looking at the markets include the Danny O’Brien-trained proven two miler De Little Engine ($8), the John O’Shea-trained multiple Group 1 placed four-year-old Tally ($9.50) and the Chris Waller-trained top weight Junoob ($10) with 59kg and coming off a stakes win in Sydney.

Check out the full Lexus Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win odds below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your Victoria Derby Day tips at the right price.

2016 Lexus Stakes Field, Barriers & Odds