Bauer, one of two horses in the Luca Cumani Melbourne Cup raiding party in Australia, earned a place in the line-up for the big race on 4 November with victory in the G3 Geelong Cup on Wenesday.
The five-year-old son of Halling was ridden by Damien Oliver, who also partnered Refuse To Bend's half-brother Media Puzzle to a Geelong Cup win en route to a memorably emotional victory at Flemington.
Bauer was taken to the lead in the straight after racing wide in the early stages and had plenty in hand at the line, winning by half a length.
This was the sixth win for the gelding, who is already a black type performer having won the Listed Chester Handicap last season. He was bred by Aston House Stud, for whom he races in partnership with OTI Racing. Bauer inherits his grey coat from his mother, the winning Linamix mare Dali’s Grey.
Among Halling’s other Stakes winners this year are the Group Two-winning stayer Coastal Path and Winter Derby winner Hattan. Halling is also the broodmare sire of Singspiel's daughter Folk Opera, who won the G1 E P Taylor Stales on her last start and runs in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Friday.
