MIKE Moroney is hoping his tough stayer Vengeur Masque can gain a start not only the Melbourne Cup, but also the Caulfield Cup, by winning The Bart Cummings at Flemington on Saturday.

For the past two years, Vengeur Masque has missed a run in the Melbourne Cup by one spot, and although he’s 36th in the order of entry this year Moroney is confident he will gain a start.

If he wins The Bart Cummings he gains an automatic start in the Melbourne Cup.

Moroney is more concerned about gaining a start in the Caulfield Cup where he is 42nd in the order of entry.

“He really needs to win and get a weight penalty to get into the Caulfield Cup,” Moroney said. “I’m reasonably confident he’ll get into the Melbourne Cup.”

Although he’s a northern hemisphere bred stayer, Vengeur Masque, emerged as one of the best local stayers last season with wins in the Geelong Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Vengeur Masque has had two starts this time in for a first-up fourth in the Heatherlie Stakes and then a 10th in the Naturalism Stakes, also at Caulfield, where he was beaten just over three lengths.

Moroney was happy with both runs, adding Vengeur Masque had to go back from his bad barrier last start. He was hoping for a good draw on Saturday so Vengeur Masque could race close to the lead but, as he’s drawn out in barrier 11, he’ll again settle back in the field.

Moroney said Vengeur Masque had improved a couple of lengths every season and he is confident that trend will continue. Moroney is guaranteed a runner in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with German stayer Sound Check.

CUPS QUEST
Chris Vernuccio
IT’S not long until the Melbourne Cup and with that spring feeling in the air, it’s time to start paying closer attention to the horses we think can play a part in our greatest race. The Cup market has seen a considerable shift at the top this week ahead of an important weekend for many of hopefuls.

LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS
THE FAVES
CROSS COUNTER ($13)
UK trainer Charlie Appleby opted to bypass the St Leger at Doncaster last month to target the Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter. The four-year-old gelding has been high in betting since his second in the Group 2 Voltigeur Stakes at York in August. Has won four of seven starts including the Group 2 Gordon Stakes. Will carry just 51kg. Big watch.

MAGIC CIRCLE ($13)
The English stayer has won his only two starts this year in the Chester Cup and Group 3 Henry II Stakes, thumping his rivals by six lengths in both races. Last year’s Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown has already secured the ride. The TAB has kept him safe in betting.

STEPPING UP
AVILIUS ($13)
Unbeaten in three Australian starts, James Cummings signalled his intentions with the former French import when he bypassed last Saturday’s Group 1 The Metropolitan in Sydney — where he was a raging pre-post favourite — to instead run in this Saturday’s Bart Cummings. A win will secure an automatic berth in the $7.3 million race. Punters think that will happen with Avilius shooting to joint Melbourne Cup favouritism this week.

KINGS WILL DREAM ($17)
Darren Weir’s five-year-old gelding has lost his spot at the top of the market after weeks spent as outright or joint favourite. He won’t beat Winx in the Turnbull Stakes but this Saturday could tell a lot more if he has the make-up to run a strong 3200m.

LONG SHOTS
PATRICK ERIN ($51)
Victory in The Metropolitan last Saturday — his first Australian win — earned the seven-year-old a 2kg penalty and moved him up to 70th in the order of entry. One punter will be hoping he sneaks into the field after having a $500 win and $1500 place bet at $201/$51 in early September.

RISING RED ($51)
Was unlucky not to win the Naturalism two weeks ago. Will likely skip The Bart Cummings on Saturday for the Herbert Power Stakes next week in a bid to gain a Caulfield Cup start, which is the stable’s main target. Would then need to win the Caulfield Cup to lock in a Melbourne Cup spot.

YOGI ($51)
Gives every indication he’ll relish 3200m but must first win a qualifying race to get in, which could be The Bart Cummings. Darren Weir-trained.