Graeme Begg and the owners of Lunar Flare cannot wait for the first Tuesday in November.

Lunar Flare showed she was on target for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1 with her second placing to imported galloper Francesco Guardi in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Saturday.

The performance of Francesco Guardi was thought to be an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, however the Chris Waller-trained galloper is no longer in the field.

While all the attention was on the winner, Begg thought his mare was equally as impressive.

“That was an ideal Cup trial,” Begg said.

“We were dictated to in the run from where we drew. We thought there might have been more speed on mid-race, but he rode her to instructions.

“The whole plan was to be strong late, which she was.”

Lunar Flare won the Moonee Valley Cup last year but was not among Melbourne Cup entries and secured a Melbourne Cup start this year earning a ballot exemption when successful in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 1.

Begg said the main work for Lunar Flare was now complete for the Cup and she would have a couple of quiet days before a gallop later in the week.

“She’s easy to train because she’s so responsive and she’s doing now what she was bred to do,” Begg said.

One task that Lunar Flare needs to have ticked off is Racing Victoria’s requirement the mare undergo scans on all four limbs.

That requires a trip across town on Monday from Begg’s Cranbourne stable to Werribee on Monday.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s a requirement, so what do you do,” Begg said.

Lunar Flare is a $21 chance with TAB in latest Melbourne Cup betting in which she will be ridden by Caulfield Cup winning rider Michael Dee.