The dream of Melbourne Cup glory is alive for the many connections of Bur Dubai as he lines up at Flemington this weekend.

Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the gelding will contest the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) on Saturday, a race that guarantees the winner a ballot-free entry into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7.

Bur Dubai carries the colours of the MyRacehorse No 1 syndicate, whose thousands of owners are eagerly following his Cup campaign. “There’s only around 8000 people waiting for a shot at the Cup,” Price quipped.

The stayer has had two solid lead-up runs at Moonee Valley — a seventh over 1600m and then a strong second over 2040m on August 23 — and his trainers believe stepping up to 2500m is the logical progression. “He goes to the Archer and has not put a foot wrong this time in,” Price said. “He has got a big, clean-winded tank on him that horse, and I think he’ll show up, it’s just a matter if he’s good enough. Training-wise, we are sailing through unincumbered by any issues. He’s a happy horse. He’s very fit, and he doesn’t carry a lot of body weight on him at this point of his career.”

Originally campaigned in Europe where he won over 2514m at Chester, Bur Dubai made his mark locally when running second to Revelare over 2000m at Flemington before scoring at 2500m at The Valley. “I think getting back to the bigger track will suit him,” Price said.

If the ballot exemption doesn’t fall his way on Saturday, Bur Dubai is likely to be seen in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 4.