Waller eyes Bendigo gold in attempt to bolster Cup hand

Master trainer Chris Waller is leaning on a touch of emotion from Bendigo-raised jockey Nash Rawiller as he attempts to sneak Soulcombe into the Melbourne Cup field.

The 2023 Cup runner-up will contest the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday, and can secure another start in Australia's most famous race if he finishes in the top three placings.

"Nash Rawiller rides. He's a local boy and it's a race that means a lot to him," Waller said.

"So I'm sure that Nash will do everything he can to get him home, or at least run top three."

Part-owned by a group of past and present Richmond AFL teammates, including premiership stars Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt, Soulcombe is one of five Bendigo Cup runners that could still make the final Melbourne Cup field.

Ciaron Maher-trained favourite Kings Valley, The Euphrates (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott), So You Are (Bjorn Baker) and Litzdeel (Danny O'Brien) are also in with a chance.

Waller feels his popular eight-year-old import has been building form across four runs on his comeback campaign after injuring a second tendon.

"Soulcombe's been coming off the injured list and just taken a while to find his best form, and I guess his fitness," Waller said.

"He's gradually stepping up in distance.

"He ran really well in the Geelong Cup but got a long way back, so hopefully we can be a little bit handier to the lead in the Bendigo Cup."

Waller, who won the Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant in 2021, has Asterix and Soul Of Spain lined up to contest this year's edition.

Pinhole (29th), Valiant King (30th) and Soulcombe (39th) are below the cut line on the order of entry.

"It wouldn't be our strongest year, but we're still making up the numbers," Waller said.

"We'll have Asterix in the race and Soul Of Spain, who ran second in the Sydney Cup, and also we're hoping Pinhole can make the cut-off point."