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In-form hoop Mark Zahra says he's thankful to connections for keeping him on star mare Verry Elleegant for the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Chris Waller was left with a big call to make after Zahra won the Caulfield Cup on her last Saturday, with regular jockey James McDonald set to ride in Melbourne for the rest of the spring.

But Waller and connections decided to stick with the in-form partnership, and Zahra was thrilled.

"I've always had a bit of luck with (part owner) Brae (Sokolski). I had him, the other Aussie owners go into bat for me, which helped, and then Chris to also make the decision (was nice)," Zahra said.

"I'm very happy to be on board.

"I've been on her quite a few times in trackwork now and ridden her in races twice, so I think it's a bonus that I know her and she knows me a little bit as well.

"She is awkward (to ride). She just doesn't like getting into argy-bargy matches and that was the only time when she was a bit awkward on Saturday, when Finche tried to push me down the rail.

"Apart from that, her manners were perfect."

Zahra said the way Verry Elleegant finished the Caulfield Cup suggested to him that she would be able to run out the 3200m in the Melbourne Cup.

"I just loved her work through the line on Saturday," he said.

"She didn't do everything right in the race. But Anthony Van Dyck has world-class form lines, he came to me and I thought I was stronger through the line.

"There was no horse even near me pulling up, she was that strong to the line. So I take some confidence out of that."