Mormona chasing Cup start in Archer

The longer the race the better for Mormona who chases a Lexus Melbourne Cup start at Flemington. 

The Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) on Saturday provides a 'win and you're in' opportunity for the 12 runners engaged after the scratching of Smokin' Romans on Thursday. 

The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Mormona will be second-up off a freshen up in Saturday's contest after producing an eye-catching performance at Caulfield on August 30. 

Mormona won over 3000m in France before joining the Archibald team and after 10 attempts at scoring on Australian soil finally got the job done at start number 11 when successful in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 over 2800m in July. 

The gelding had a strong winter campaign in Sydney before heading to Melbourne where he relished the 2800m under a perfect ride from Jamie Melham. 

Mormona was only afforded a short break before resuming over 2000m at Caulfield and Rob Archibald said in an ideal world they would like more time. 

But Archibald said the gelding was an out-and-out stayer and second-up up off a short break over 2500m would not pose a problem. 

"Obviously from a timing point of view it's a little bit tricky as he'd been up a little while before winning at Flemington, so we knew that we had to give him a little bit of a freshen if we were going to get through to the spring," Archibald said. 

"So, he had a bit of a let-up, spent a bit of time at the beach and now we're working our way back. 

"He is a natural stayer, and he's come through the last run well. 

"I thought he was excellent, and we couldn't have asked for anything more. He was back, and a bit wide, and we thought he closed off well in the circumstances. 

"He's a natural stayer, he's won a couple of times over 3000 metres so the further he goes, the better for him. It's just a matter of making sure he's conditioned and can cope with that distance when he gets to it. 

"His first-up run was a tick and hopefully he keeps progressing." 

Michael Dee who had the ride at Caulfield sticks with the stayer on Saturday.