Trainer Chris Waller will be outraged if his five-year-old gelding The Verminator misses out on a place in the $6 million Melbourne Cup field on November 1.

Waller believes The Verminator, who won The Metropolitan last start, should be higher in the ballot order than his current position of 26.

The trainer feels that handicappers are bowing down to the pressures from international stables to ensure runs to their horses over local stayers.

Waller feels that if The Verminator fails to make the field, it will be a sad day for the Australia breeding industry.

“If The Verminator doesn’t get a start in the Cup you have to start thinking why should we go out and buy a stayer at the yearling sales or why try to breed one in this country?’ Waller said.

‘He was bought as a stayer. He has proven himself as a Group One winner so for him not to make it would leave a bad taste in the mouth.

‘I’m not having a go at the handicapper but overseas horses are finding it a lot easier to qualify.

“It’s now so easy to go out and buy a Melbourne Cup runner from Europe, but virtually impossible to buy or breed one here.”

The Verminator will now run in The Lexus Stakes at Flemington this Saturday in the hope of gaining automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.

‘We want to run in the Mackinnon as it would be a better hit-out for him three days out from the Cup,” Waller said.

“However if he is forced to run in the Lexus just to win to secure a Cup start it could flatten him for Tuesday.

“With his form and winning record he shouldn’t be in that position.”

The Verminator has won seven of his 24 career starts and has earned more than $550,000 in prize money.