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A supremely tough win in Wednesday’s A$500,000 Group Three Apiam Animal Health Bendigo Cup (2400m) has kept the A$7.75m Melbourne Cup (3200m) dream alive for the connections of a quality staying mare who cost only $80,000 at Karaka 2018.

It was the second blacktype win for High Emocean (NZ) (Ocean Park), who has now had 22 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$705,635 in stakes – almost 10 times her purchase price.

The six-year-old was a warm favourite for Wednesday's feature on the strength of a solid run of form through the early spring, and she lived up to expectations with a tenacious performance in the hands of jockey Harry Coffey.

High Emocean took up a handier position than usual, settling in fourth for the majority of the race. Coffey sent her out after the front-running Verimli (Born To Sea) at the home turn, and she wore down that rival inside the final 100 metres.

Port Philip (Camelot) chased hard down her outside and posed a serious threat in the closing stages, but High Emocean dug deep and held on by a head.

"The crowd were right behind us and there's a massive ownership group here," Coffey said. "She got an almighty roar and I think she deserved it.

"It was her race to win. She was up amongst it, doing the work carting the field up, and she got the job done. It was well deserved for her.

"I think the biggest asset she usually has is that she travels into the race a long way out and has a turn of foot. Today, riding her that little bit closer and having to make a real race of it from the 500, that took away the asset she has, so she had to win on different circumstances to what she's usually used to. I thought that's what made it a good effort.

"Usually you like to ride her a little bit cold and have her having the last crack, but today she was fighting them off.

"Credit to the second horse as well. He was extremely brave and I thought he was going to run me down. He's got great form and is an up-and-coming stayer, but was unlucky to run into a mare at the top of her game at the moment."

High Emocean is currently 26th on the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Tuesday.

"This is a massive result for the team, and hopefully she has done enough to get into the Melbourne Cup," said Jack Turnbull, representing trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. "We've picked up a healthy cheque today.

"She loves Flemington, she loves soft ground, and the forecast looks a bit dismal. Fingers crossed she can sneak in."

High Emocean was bred by the Hawkins family's Llanhennock Trust, and she was offered under their Wentwood Grange banner in Book 1 of Karaka 2018. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group Three-placed Elate (NZ) (Savabeel).