Marlin a future Melbourne Cup hope?

White Marlin has given Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a reason to dream they could have themselves a Melbourne Cup contender in 2023 with a convincing 5.5-length win in the $150,000 The Macca’s Run (2800m) on Tuesday.

The Irish import kept his unbeaten record on his CV intact, now boasting five race victories, and Bott suggested there could be a chance to extend that streak to six in his first preparation Down Under.

“We did the leave option open for one more run this campaign, whether we could look at the Sandown Cup with him stretching him out to 3200 metres would be an option the way he finished off today,” Bott said.

“Obviously the long-range plan would be to be back here in 12 months’ time.

“He was very impressive today, he’s gone to a new level up in class and up in trip he was very dominant.”

The dashing grey carries the silks of the Australian Chinese Jockey Club, who acquired the son of Mastercraftsman after two wins on the Dundalk synthetic track in Ireland.

“He is going to be even better when he gets into a better grade race with more pressure just to settle that little bit better, but he couldn’t have been more impressive,” jockey Tim Clark said.

The Sandown Cup, a $175,000 Listed event on November 26 at Caulfield, would be White Marlin’s first test at Stakes level.