Country trainer Terry O'Sullivan believes Dolphin Jo is better prepared for the Melbourne Cup than a year ago after he posted his first win in 17 months.

The five-year-old hadn't won since he took out the St Leger Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day last year but finally broke through on Saturday, streaking away to a 2-1/2 length win in the Listed Bart Cummings (2530m).

The Fuzz finished second a nose ahead of Light Vision.

Dolphin Jo finished 15th in the 2006 Melbourne Cup but is at risk of not getting a run this year as he is a lightweight with 50kg and 56th in order of elimination.

"I would love for him to get a penalty to help him get a run and keep my rider on," O'Sullivan said.

Apprentice Sebastian Murphy could have ridden Light Vision but stuck with Dolphin Jo who he has partnered throughout this spring campaign.

He rode at 51.5kg two weeks ago and is hoping to get down to 50.5kg to ride Brom Felinity in the Caulfield Cup on October 20.

O'Sullivan said the win ended a frustrating run for Dolphin Jo who set up the victory with an eye-catching third to leading Caulfield Cup contenders Douro Valley and Maldivian in the Listed Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 22.

"He's been bloody unlucky a few times but I thought his run last start was great," O'Sullivan said.

He said Dolphin Jo did not have the "pick up" speed to match other horses over 2000 metres but was pleased with his last 50 metres in the Naturalism.

"In those horses at 2000 metres when they sprint they just leave him a little bit flat-footed but I think when we get to the longer races it will suit him and I'm sure this track (Flemington) suits him too," O'Sullivan said.

He said Dolphin Jo was still in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 20 but was likely to back up in next Saturday's Group Two Winning Edge Presentations Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield instead and have his final Melbourne Cup lead up in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on October 27.

"I am not completely ruling it out if we get rain but I think they might be a bit too sharp for him in a Caulfield Cup," O'Sullivan said.

O'Sullivan said Dolphin Jo appreciated getting galloping room.

"I'm positive he finishes his races off better if he can bit of galloping room," O'Sullivan said.

Betting agency Betstar immediately cut Dolphin Jo's price for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups from $81 to $34 following the win.

The Fuzz was also a big shortener for both races, in from $81 to $41.

O'Sullivan said that Dolphin Jo was more mature this year for the Melbourne Cup.

"He was a little bit immature last year and I believe we made a bit of an error when we decided to ride him back a little," O'Sullivan said.

"He's a tough little horse and last year the pace dropped off shockingly and all the horses back there lost their chance.

"He finished 15th but I am convinced if we had ridden a little bit positive out of the gates in the Melbourne Cup he might have run in the first ten."

© AAP 2010 Published 07/10/07