The owners of remarkable veteran Who Shot Thebarman expect the rising 10-year-old to be set for next season’s Melbourne Cup.

After winning Saturday’s $2 million Sydney Cup at his fifth attempt, the connections of Who Shot TheBarman believe he deserves another shot at the Melbourne Cup after three previous starts in Australia’s greatest race.

Who Shot Thebarman ran in the Melbourne Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He was set to start for a fourth time last year after winning the Moonee Valley Cup before he was ruled out by a setback on the eve of the race.

Who Shot Thebarman had his first Sydney Cup start back in 2014, finishing ninth. He ran second in 2015, fourth in 2016 and second last year.

Part-owner Dan O’Leary said that despite the gelding’s advancing age the ownership group believe trainer Chris Waller will give him another Melbourne Cup preparation.

“He likes it in Melbourne and he just gets better with age so there’s no reason to think we couldn’t go back for another shot at the Cup,” O’Leary said.

“We know Chris will look after him and he will tell us whether it is an option or not.

“He likes it at Moonee Valley, so the Moonee Valley Cup would be the first target and then who knows what could happen after that.

O’Leary said he and his partners were overwhelmed by the response to Who Shot Thebarman’s last stride win in the Sydney Cup.

Photo by Steve Hart

“He’s a pretty special horse and has a huge fan club both in New Zealand and Australia,” he said.

“It was a very surreal experience. To do it when he was having his fifth attempt at the race is amazing and I think it is a tribute to the horse and Chris Waller.

O’Leary admitted he wasn’t confident of a victory as he well remembered the disappointment of previous years.

“We were definitely hopeful but realistic in that he had been close before and the fact was he was a nine-year-old giving weight to most of the field,” he said.

“I think what played in his favour was the better track. He just kept grinding away and stuck his big head out at the right time.

“I think that is what makes him so popular with his fans as every time he races he gives it his all. People love that.”

Photo by Steve Hart