Ibicenco staked his Melbourne Cup claims with a grinding win in the Geelong Cup.

Ibicenco was about sixth early but trapped wide, so Brad Rawiller let him roll up and eventually crossed to race outside the leader nearing the 1400m point.

He was under pressure approaching the home turn and briefly looked beaten but kept grinding home, proving a little too strong a stayer nearing the post to score by a neck.

Verdant was smartly away from his outside barrier (9) and went straight to the front. He travelled well in the lead and looked the winner as he grabbed a break rounding the home turn and was only run down in the closing stages for second.

Moudre was fifth, one off the rails, before improving (wide) from the 600m point. He got to third at the 200m and kept battling on to hold that position to the post, finishing four and half lengths from the winner.

Crafty Cruiser was a handy fifth most of the way to the 600m. He switched back to the rails at the turn but only kept plugging on in the heavy conditions for fourth.

The favourite Forgotten Voice ($3.50) had a good trip in fourth spot most of the way to the 600m and looked a threat as he moved up (three wide) nearing the home turn but he only plugged on in the straight for a moderate (five and half lengths) fifth.