Six months of planning has paid off with The Map earning a 'Golden Ticket' into the Melbourne Cup.
The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday grants the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November.
Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray planned their assault on Saturday's race after The Map won 'the other' staying race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Sent out the $3.90 favourite under Damian Lane, The Map held off a late challenge by Mostly Cloudy ($6.50) by a half-length with Excelleration ($6.50) a nose away third.
The Melbourne Cup is 171 days away, and MacGillivray said The Map would have a three-or four-week break before preparing for the Melbourne Cup.
"We'll let her chill and then start again," MacGillivray said.
"We're in the Melbourne Cup, now we have to get her fit and we don't have to run her and get any weight penalties.