The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Runaway has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington to be saved for the 2018 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Runaway, above, has been withdrawn from the Lexus Stakes to be saved for the 2018 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Runaway was elevated to number twenty-two in the order of entry for the Group 1 $7.3m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington after the scratching of the English stayer Duretto on Wednesday and is now assured of a start in the final twenty-four horse field.

Runaway races in the Rosemont Stud’s red and white colours and the Stud’s principal Anthony Mithen said he was happy to wait until Tuesday to see the Manhattan Rain four year old take his place in the Melbourne Cup.

“It’s great news for us; we can just smoke the pipe and worry about Tuesday,” Mithen told the Geelong Advertiser.

Runaway showed off his staying credentials with a win in the 2800m Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger at Flemington on April 25 and then put himself into Melbourne Cup calculations with an all the way win in the Group 3 $350,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong on October 24.

Runaway is currently marked at $34 for the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Aidan O’Brien trained Yucatan as the $4.50 favourite ahead of the English stayers Cross Counter and Magic Circle at $9.

Early betting for the 2018 Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Yucatan, $9 Magic Circle, Cross Counter, $11 Avilius, Muntahaa, $15 Best Solution, The Cliffsofmoher, $17 Youngstar, Marmelo, Rostropovich, $21 Finche, $31 Ventura Storm, $34 Runaway, Sound Check, $41 Chestnut Coat, A Prince Of Arran, $51 Red Verdon, Jaameh, Thinkin’ Big, $67 Ace High, Who Shot Thebarman, $81 Brimham Rocks, Tosen Basil, Vengeur Masque, $101 or better the rest.