The last Tuesday in March could prove an important stepping stone to the first Tuesday in November for the Bart Cummings-trained Joe Blow.The four-year-old graduates to 2200 metres at Warwick Farm after winning his past two races over 1550 and 1800 metres on Randwick's Kensington track.He is entered for the Sydney Cup but whether he gets to that level this preparation is not as important as getting to the Melbourne Cup, a race that has so far eluded his owner John Singleton.It is a race that has

The last Tuesday in March could prove an important stepping stone to the first Tuesday in November for the Bart Cummings-trained Joe Blow.

The four-year-old graduates to 2200 metres at Warwick Farm after winning his past two races over 1550 and 1800 metres on Randwick's Kensington track.

He is entered for the Sydney Cup but whether he gets to that level this preparation is not as important as getting to the Melbourne Cup, a race that has so far eluded his owner John Singleton.

It is a race that has not eluded Cummings who has 12 trophies including the 2008 Cup won by Viewed.

"Singo has expressed a desire to win the Melbourne Cup while he is still on this earth and I said I'd do my best to help him," Cummings said.

The trainer bypassed the option to run Joe Blow in Saturday's Listed Manion Cup (2400m), preferring to bring him along in his own patient way.

"It seemed like an easier race at Warwick Farm," Cummings said.

"If he wins then he can go on to the Chairman's Handicap which would get him into the Sydney Cup.

"If he doesn't get to that race then he can go the way Viewed did and head to the Brisbane Cup.

"He needs to win a decent race along the line to get to the Melbourne Cup."

The Chairman's Handicap (2600m) is on April 11, the first day of the Randwick carnival with the Sydney Cup (3200m) two weeks later.

Joe Blow is by retired champion stallion Sadler's Wells out of Strawberry Girl, a daughter of Strawberry Road who was raced by Singleton.

The winner of the 1983 Rosehill Guineas, AJC Australian Derby and Cox Plate, Strawberry Road campaigned internationally for a win in Germany in 1984 and fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before he was retired to stand at stud in the United States.

Singleton's mare Tuesday Joy finished ninth in the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) at the weekend's World Cup meeting and will be aimed at the Arc later this year.

Tuesday Joy was the early favourite for the past two Melbourne Cups with her 2007 campaign thwarted by the equine influenza outbreak.

Her 2008 bid was halted when she incurred a mandatory ban after a bleeding attack in a lead-up race.