Progressive stayer Tanby gave owner Lloyd Williams and his team a headache that they’d like to have when cruising to a comfortable victory in the Listed Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington today.

The win is likely to see the six-year-old receive a weight penalty and in turn improve his position in the order of entry for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Lloyd Williams’ son Nick confirmed the Caulfield Cup was a genuine possibility for the son of Galileo but also outlined the Moonee Valley Cup as a potential next target.

“We’ve always had a good opinion of this horse, he’s come through the grades well,” Williams said.

“It’s either the Caulfield Cup or the Moonee Valley Cup. We’ll just have to wait and see how he pulls up.”

Damien Oliver rode Tanby quietly and he appeared to be in an awkward position approaching the home turn.

But Oliver navigated him into clear running down the outside where he loomed up and quickly disposed of his rivals with an eventual one-length win ahead of Maluckyday and Dame Claire.

Oliver gave Tanby the seal of approval as a Melbourne Cup type after riding him for the first time.

“I was quite impressed with him because he got there and he still doesn’t know how to put the race away. I think he’s got a good future,” Oliver said.

“I think the Melbourne Cup is more suitable for him [than the Caulfield Cup]. I was quite taken with him, he will stay.”