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A timely return to something like the form that carried him to an Epsom Derby victory has given imported stayer Serpentine a Melbourne Cup lifeline.
Needing to run in the top-three placings in the Archer Stakes at Flemington, Serpentine finished second to Surefire after leading a depleted field.
The Archer Stakes serves as the final qualifying race for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup but only seven runners lined up on Victoria Derby day.
Serpentine had finished among the tailenders in four Australian starts for a syndicate of high-powered owners led by seven-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams.
He seemed a shadow of the horse that landed the 2020 Epsom Derby for champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.
But even in defeat on Saturday, Williams's son Nick said there were encouraging signs to allow Serpentine to join stablemate Point Nepean in the Melbourne Cup after passing a ballot clause.
"We'll accept (in the Cup) for sure. It was a much-improved run today," he said.
"From that run you'd say further the better so we will accept with him and see how we go."
Serpentine sat 27th in the order of entry before the Archer and he is a $34 chance to go one better on Tuesday.
As the all-conquering Williams stable doubled its Cup representation, the world's best-known thoroughbred operation resigned itself to not having a Melbourne Cup runner.
Godolphin had high hopes that Alegron would improve on a Caulfield Cup misfire but the stayer failed for the second time in as many Melbourne starts in finishing sixth of the seven runners - almost eight lengths from the winner.
The Archer Stakes, run at Group Three level over 2500m, has lost its significance as a Melbourne Cup guide since Shocking completed the double in 2009.
Surefire, who gave jockey James McDonald an early Melbourne Cup carnival winner, isn't among the entries for Tuesday's $8 million race.
