The Danny O'Brien-trained Gallopin came into Melbourne Cup calculations after he narrowly but convincingly won the Group Two Moonee Valley Cup.With Kibbutz out for the spring, Gallopin was 40th in the order of entry into the Melbourne Cup and needed to win and gain a Cup penalty in Saturday's 2500m feature to improve his chances of gaining a start.That he did, with Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter penalising him one kilogram which has taken his Cup weight to 52kg and elevated him

The Danny O'Brien-trained Gallopin came into Melbourne Cup calculations after he narrowly but convincingly won the Group Two Moonee Valley Cup.

With Kibbutz out for the spring, Gallopin was 40th in the order of entry into the Melbourne Cup and needed to win and gain a Cup penalty in Saturday's 2500m feature to improve his chances of gaining a start.

That he did, with Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter penalising him one kilogram which has taken his Cup weight to 52kg and elevated him to 30th in the order of entry to make the 24-horse field.

"It was a driving finish but it was his best win and I've given him a kilo," Carpenter said.

"That should get him into the Cup."

O'Brien already has last year's Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly and this year's Caulfield Cup placegetter Barbaricus heading towards the Melbourne Cup.

"He's been set for the Melbourne Cup all along. I've always had a good opinion of this horse," the trainer said of the Pins five-year-old.

O'Brien said Gallopin was thwarted by the slow track when fourth to Newport in the Group One The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 4.

"His work since he came back (from Sydney) has been sensational," O'Brien said.

James Winks gave Gallopin ($7) a nice trail one out from the fence in sixth spot and he wore down Baughurst ($4.60 fav) to score by a head with Ice Chariot ($5) 2-1/4 lengths away third.

"I can't wait for Tuesday week. It was a perfect Cup trial," Winks said.

The Bill Wilde-trained Baughurst is still 51st in the Cup order of entry and will now miss the race.

Damien Oliver said Ice Chariot "had every chance".