Here it was, Chris Waller finally has the one trophy he's so long desired. But the win was more than that.

The victory was the culmination of years of hard work, the final result of meticulous planning and an ultra-professional business.

Read more: Theresa Bateup breaks through for first Randwick winner

Second was short-priced favourite Incentivise, a horse that has captivated the nation in recent weeks.

In Verry Elleegant and Incentivise, Kembla trainers watched with interest.

The horses have tracked vastly different trajectories to the nation's greatest race.

Incentivise's path is one provincial trainers can follow. Initially trained in country Queensland, before Steve Tregea opted to sell a share and shift the gelding to Peter Moody's yard in Melbourne.

With international raiders no longer dominating the Cup, Kembla Grange trainers are looking to capitalise on the opportunity.

Kerry Parker has led the way, Think It Over now an elite middle-distance horse.

Tuesday's result shows the Group 1 winner will be among the fancied chances should the trainer target next year's Melbourne Cup.

Robert and Luke Price have been close behind, Jamaea a two-time Group 2 winner, while Count De Rupee ran an impressive second in Saturday's $7.5 million Golden Eagle.

The father-son duo have no plans on slowing down, with Luke eyeing a place in the Everest.

Incentivise, however, has shown it's possible for the small stables to compete in staying races, if the right runner comes along.

The Prices acknowledge that horse might not be Australian bred, with the pair willing to enter the European sales ring in search of an up-and-coming prospect.

"It's the race that stops the nation," Luke Price said. "The gloss may have been taken off slightly, but it's still the Melbourne Cup. It is a historic race and it's a real challenge to have a stayer like that. I'd love to have the opportunity one day.

"The race might be lacking a bit of depth this year, but Incentivise had the whole country behind him.

"Think it Over has been unbelievable for Kerry, it shows that if we look after these horses properly, they can end up anywhere."

Tuesday marked 20 years since Bede Murray's star Universal Prince was controversially scratched from the 2001 Melbourne Cup on the morning of the race, his son's Paul and Graeme eager to return to Flemington.

There are hopes El Lago could be the one, the stable eyeing a number of derbies in the new year.

Paul Murray points to the absence of international runners in recent years as a glimmer of hope for provincial trainers.

"It's probably a lot easier today, we haven't got all these overseas horses coming," Murray said. "That's brought it back to earth.

"They're very hard to beat. Those European horses are unbelievable, but if they keep making it hard for them, they won't come. It means our stayers can get there again.

"You look at a horse like Think It Over, there's no reason why he can't slowly step up and go down that path.

"We always hope to get that kind of horse. El Lago is only young, but he's bred to stay, we've got another filly Lady Redwood who will run a journey, so we've got to wait and see how they go."