English stayer Bauer is on track to emulate Irish stayer Media Puzzle after he charged to an impressive victory in Wednesday's Group Three Geelong Cup.Damien Oliver, who won the Geelong Cup and Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle six years ago, partnered Bauer to give England's leading trainer Luca Cumani his first win in Australia.Media Puzzle is the only horse to win the Geelong-Melbourne Cup double in the same year but Oliver rates Bauer an outstanding chance to be the second.Michael Eskander's Bet

English stayer Bauer is on track to emulate Irish stayer Media Puzzle after he charged to an impressive victory in Wednesday's Group Three Geelong Cup.

Damien Oliver, who won the Geelong Cup and Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle six years ago, partnered Bauer to give England's leading trainer Luca Cumani his first win in Australia.

Media Puzzle is the only horse to win the Geelong-Melbourne Cup double in the same year but Oliver rates Bauer an outstanding chance to be the second.

Michael Eskander's Betstar slashed Bauer's Melbourne Cup quote from $41 to $17 after he scored by a length from the Bart Cummings-trained Moatize with Magic Instinct a half-neck away third.

Cumani will now have two Cup runners after Mad Rush, ridden by Oliver, finished an eye-catching fourth in last Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

"This is such a relief," said Cumani's 25-year-old daughter Francesca who has been in charge of the stable's horses when they have come to Australia in the last three years.

Glistening and Soulacroix were unplaced in the 2006 Melbourne Cup and Purple Moon was ridden by Oliver when second to Efficient in last year's Cup.

"The last three years we have learned a lot and this being a first winner is a good reward for the all work by everyone in the team," Cumani said.

"He (Bauer) ran such a good race and to win means it guarantees a start in the Melbourne Cup we hope."

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will decide overnight whether to penalise Bauer for the Melbourne Cup after he carried 55.5kg.

He has 51kg in the Cup and is currently 43rd in order of elimination but a kilo penalty should lift him as high as 30.

Cumani said there was not much between Bauer and Mad Rush in ability.

Last start Bauer was beaten seven lengths when seventh to Caulfield Cup winner All The Good in the Newburgh Handicap in England.

"I think after Mad Rush's great run we thought both horses were on the right road," Cumani said.

Francesca updated her father on Bauer's chances over the phone as the field paraded before the race.

Only six months ago the OTI Racing Syndicate, managed by Terry Henderson and former Test cricketer Simon O'Donnell, bought an interest in Bauer. The syndicate also part-owns Magic Instinct.

With Oliver committed to Mad Rush in the Cup, Bauer's rider won't be decided until Carpenter decides on a penalty.

Oliver said Media Puzzle might have been more impressive with his 3-1/2 length win in the 2002 Geelong Cup but he admires Bauer as a genuine Melbourne Cup threat after racing three wide with cover on Wednesday.

"He travelled sweetly for me the whole way and coming to the turn I was going quite well," Oliver said.

"It was great effort from an outside gate.

"I asked him pretty early in the straight and he extended for me good."

Oliver said he eased Bauer down near the line when he had the race won.

"I thought he was doing enough to hold them off so it was good to leave something in the tank for the Cup," he said.

"He probably wasn't quite as impressive as Media Puzzle but take nothing away from this bloke.

"It was still a very good effort and they are going to know he there in the Cup for sure."