Buckaroo and Valiant King line up at Flemington

Ben Melham rides Qatar Racing’s two Chris Waller-trained runners in separate races at the carnival finale on 7 November.

Qatar Racing lists Buckaroo for the Champions Mile at Flemington on Saturday, 7 November, with Valiant King entered in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same meeting. Ben Melham is booked for both Chris Waller-trained runners in the owner’s current list.

The Champions Mile is a Group 1 turf race over 1,600 metres. Racing Post’s card lists Buckaroo as number 3 from stall 7. The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 3 turf handicap; the owner’s list gives its distance as one mile and five furlongs.

The Melbourne carnival finale brings together different demands: the Mile tests sustained speed, while the longer Queen Elizabeth asks for a different distribution of effort. That is a comparison of the races, rather than a forecast of the finishing order. The Victoria Racing Club schedules Champions Stakes Day for Saturday, 7 November.