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A one-time favourite for the Melbourne Cup has broken through for his maiden win in Australia.

Trainer Phillip Stokes will work backwards from the Melbourne Cup to plan his assault on this year's race with Amade, winner of the William Newton VC Handicap at Flemington. 

Amade was having his second start in almost 18 months having recovered from a fractured pelvis and tendon injury. 

A first-up fourth over 2000m at Caulfield on April 3 was followed by victory in Sunday's 2600m contest. 

Amade will now be spelled to concentrate on the spring with Terry Henderson, from OTI Racing, saying the Geelong Cup or The Bart Cummings are races the stayer may be aimed at enroute to November's Melbourne Cup. 

Unfortunately for connections, Amade, a seven-year-old, is ineligible for the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on May 15, a race that provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. 

Ridden by Ben Allen, Amade ($5.50) raced to a 1-¾ length win from Mohican Heights ($4.40) with Mawaany Machine ($41) three-quarters-of-a-length away third. 

"It's been a long trip with this horse," Stokes said. 

"He won the Belmont Gold Cup in New York then he went amiss. He did a pelvis, he did a tendon, it's been a very big rehabilitation with 12 months off the scene. 

"We've just brought him along very slowly and to get a result like this second-up, is better than expected. 

"He's been a very sound horse back at the stable but after his work on Tuesday, we walked away scratching our heads, it was very ordinary. 

"Today he showed he's a real race day horse." 

Last year's fifth placegetter in the Melbourne Cup, Persan, finished fourth as the $1.60 favourite, finishing 3-½ lengths from the winner. 

David Eustace, who trains the stayer in partnership with Ciaron Maher, could not explain the poor performance of the galloper. 

"I'm sure there will be something that will show up," Eustace said.