Melbourne Cup: Bendigo victory snares berth for The Offer

Famed trainer Gai Waterhouse has seen her horse The Offer qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Gai Waterhouse's The Offer forced himself into the A$6 million Melbourne Cup with a gutsy victory in yesterday's A$300,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup.

The Offer did well under 59kg topweight with Michael Walker in the saddle.

After the win The Offer had his Melbourne Cup price halved from $81 to $41.

Waterhouse won the 2013 Melbourne Cup with Fiorente, but The Offer faces a much tougher task.

Divan ran second ahead of the John Sargent-trained equal favourite Kirramosa.

Chris Parnham was probably forced to go wide on the home bend on Kirramosa and that appeared to cost her victory.

Matt Cameron gave the Baker/Forsman runner Maygrove a beautiful run, challenged and hit the lead at the 350m, but was outfinished into fourth.