Godolphin's hope of capturing that elusive Melbourne Cup came a step closer when Hamada kept his 2018 season at a perfect four for four with a dominant display in the Group III Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
The 4yo gelding spent nearly two years on the sidelines after winning a 10-furlong maiden at Pontefract back in October 2016.
He began his current sequence with a pair of wins over 12 furlongs at Wolverhampton and York before making everyone sit up and take notice with a seven-length romp over 14 furlongs at Newmarket.
Stepped up to Group company for the first time at Newbury, the Charlie Appleby-trained gelding tracked the early speed under James Doyle before drawing away to win by two and a half lengths from Raymond Tusk.
The winner's stablemate Walton Street clocked in third and he is another likely to make the trip to Australia. (photo Sporting Life)
Like Hamada, Walton Street is by Cape Cross but he has a closer affinity to Australia as his dam is the Encosta de Lago mare Brom Felinity, a sister to Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Delago Brom, who won the Group II VRC Hilton International Stakes in 2006.
Speaking from France, Appleby said the focus was squarely on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.
"We decided to swerve the Ebor (at York next week) with both Hamada and Walton Street in the hope they would go to Newbury and confirm their slot for Australia," Appleby told Sporting Life.
"We felt it was the slightly easier option, going to Newbury rather than York, and it's worked out really well. Hamada is getting better with racing and I feel he's got the right sort of profile to go to Australia.
"We'll find out what weights both horses get for the Melbourne Cup next week. I'd quite like to go straight there (with Hamada) if possible, as he's had plenty of racing this year already, but it depends what weight he gets."
On pedigree, there will be few fears of Hamada getting a strong two miles.
The son of former Darley shuttler Cape Cross (IRE) is out of the unraced Kingmambo mare Sahraah who is a sister to Longchamp Group III Prix Gladiateur hero Ley Hunter who also placed in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran and Group II Prix d'Harcourt.
Sahraah is a daughter of the Group 1 Irish Oaks, Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes and Group 1 Nassau Stakes heroine Lailani (Unfuwan).
