'The Melbourne Cup is the plan, but we've got to get there first' - Onesmoothoperator starts Australia adventure on Wednesday

Onesmoothoperator starts his Australian adventure in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (6.10), with confidence growing that a run in the Lexus Melbourne Cup is attainable.

The six-year-old, who realised trainer Brian Ellison's dream of winning the Northumberland Plate this summer, is set to face 14 rivals in the A$500,000 (£256,863/€308,300) Group 3 over 1m4f.

Ellison and owner Patrick Boyle are in Melbourne to see Onesmoothoperator in the Geelong Cup, for which his rivals include the former Jessica Harrington-trained Birdman.

Onesmoothoperator, whose four career victories have all come on the all-weather, was fourth in the September Stakes behind winner Kalpana last time, having also finished seventh in the Ebor since his Plate victory.

"He's in good form and has been breezing well over here," said Ellison. "He's eaten up and put plenty of weight on, so everything has gone well. 

"He's won the November Handicap and the Northumberland Plate and is suited by big handicaps. We just need a bit of luck. The races out here are different because they don't always go quick, so we'd like to see a bit of a gallop on over a mile and a half."

Onesmoothoperator at home with Brian and Claire Ellison at Spring Cottage Stables in Malton Credit: Edward Whitaker

The last time Ellison travelled horses to Australia was when Moyenne Corniche and Saptapadi finished 15th and 16th in the Melbourne Cup in 2011 and he is desperate for another crack.

Onesmoothoperator is 32nd in line on the minimum 50kg for the Flemington feature, which has a maximum field size of 24. Even if he does not win at Geelong and improve his placing in the ballot order, he still has a chance of sneaking into the race.

"The Melbourne Cup is the plan, but we've got to get there first," said Ellison. "I think if we finish first or second [at Geelong] we'll get in and we might still get in because a lot of them bombed out at the weekend."

Hollie Doyle has been linked with having her second Melbourne Cup ride on Onesmoothoperator, who will be ridden by Saturday's Everest-winning jockey Craig Williams at Geelong.

"It boils down to the weights, there's Hollie Doyle there and if Craig does well on him and wants the ride, he might just keep it. We'll see what happens after Wednesday," Ellison said.

As well as giving a debut to Birdman, who is 36th in the Melbourne Cup order, trainer Chis Waller will try to use the Geelong Cup to qualify Francesco Guardi and El Bodegon, who also remain outside the ballot.

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