Mike Moroney and Lisa Cropp will go into today’s Melbourne Cup with their spirits up.

The Kiwi trainer and jockey combination, with Glass Harmonium in the Cup, had a success taster when African Pulse topple the in-form Karuta Queen to win the Schweppes Tonic 1000m at Flemington just two hours away from the Cup.

Karuta Queen took up her usual position in front but a wall of horses settled just behind in the race run down the Flemington straight.

At the 300m Tommy Berry asked Karuta Queen to quicken and she did but it was immediately noticeable that African Pulse would give her a fight.

They drew clear of all other runners but at the 150m there was only one winning chance, the lightly raced African Pulse.

She pulled away to win to win by 1-1/4l from the $1.55 fav Karuta Queen with The Counterfeiter a further four lengths away third.

Moroney said African Pulse had the potential to make a top line sprinter.

The daughter of Johannesburg was having her first start since May after only having two starts before today’s race.

“She kept going shin sore and we gave her plenty of time,” Moroney said.

Moroney reported Glass Harmonium was relaxed and ready to go in the Melbourne Cup