Well, what a Melbourne cup trial for last years runner up in the...

Well, what a Melbourne cup trial for last years runner up in the Turnbull. Not seen an eye catching performance like that for some time in a group 1 lead up race. Probably should have won! Surely must be favourite now?

Will Gai get her first Melbourne Cup?

GAI Waterhouse is on target to notch her first Melbourne Cup after Fiorente, runner-up in the great 3200m last year, stormed into equal favouritism with Puissance De Lune after the pair excelled despite not winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

Fiorente, brilliant winner of the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley three weeks ago, showed the same blistering finishing burst to come from last of 16 at the 400m of the 2000m race to be beaten only a length into fourth place.

Puissance De Lune, courtesy of a brilliant rails-hugging ride by Glen Boss but handicapped by a too firm track, was runner-up in a Group 1 for the second time at Flemington in a month, this time beaten a short neck after losing the Makybe Diva Stakes by a half-head.

Corporate bookmakers responded immediately to the performance of both. Sportsbet kept the Darren Weir-trained grey solid at $6 for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup, but shaved Fiorente from $8 to share favouritism.

“Given her effort to finish runner-up in the Cup last year and the super form she is showing now, Fiorente deserves to be right at the top of Cup betting,” said Sportsbet’s Haydn Lane.

Betstar made Fiorente the $5 outright Cup favourite, with Alan Eskander saying he also will be hard to beat in the Cox Plate, for which he is the $5.50 equal second favourite (with Puissance Du Lune) behind Atlantic Jewel ($4).

Puissance De Lune, who has dominated Cup betting, has slipped from favouritism with Sportingbet, according to Michael Felgate. The bookmaker has Fiorente at $6, Hawkspur at $7 and Puissance De Lune now at $7.50.

The TAB installed Fiorente the $6 favourite, ahead of Puissance De Lune and Hawkspur at $7.

Hawkspur, who ran home from 15th at the 400m to finish fifth in the Turnbull in a similarly impressive effort to Fiorente, has firmed to $5 favourite for the Caulfield Cup with the TAB.