The Phillip Stokes-trained Amade could not have been more impressive when taking out the opener at Flemington on Sunday afternoon. His win in the William Newton VC Handicap saw his odds halve in 2021 Melbourne Cup betting within minutes of crossing the line. Sportsbet now having him on the second line of betting at +2000 for the great race.

Amade has not had everything go his way in his career, Sunday afternoon's win was just his second race start since his win in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup in the United States back in June 2019.

OTI Racing purchased the Casamento gelding following that performance and he was well in the early markets for the 2019 Melbourne Cup at the time. However, a potential career-threatening injury saw him sidelined for the best part of 18 months with pelvis and tendon injuries.

Sunday's win at the geldings second start in Australia certainly took Stokes by surprise.

With the Melbourne Cup firmly in the plans for the seven-year-old during the spring, Stokes declared that he will most likely send his runner to the paddock as he is unable to contest the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in three weeks time due to his age.

The Andrew Ramsden gives runners the chance to secure a golden ticket into “the race that stops the nation” but is restricted to eligible horses aged between three and five years of age.

Amade will need to battle his way into the field for this year's Melbourne Cup as he has yet to pass the first ballot for the event. He will need to come back in the spring and win a couple of black-type races over a mile and a half, or be set for a run in The Bart Cummings a month prior to “The Cup”.

Similarly to the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, The Bart Cummings gifts the winner a start on the first Tuesday in November.

Prince Of Arran and Tiger Moth sit above Amade as equal favourites at +1400 in Melbourne Cup betting. Those two runners filled the minor placings behind Twilight Payment in last years race.