Jet-setting galloper Criterion has done his trainers proud with a minor placing in the Melbourne Cup.

Carrying second topweight of 57.5kg, Criterion finished third behind Prince Of Penzance and Max Dynamite, beaten just over a length.

The former David Payne-trained galloper joined the Lindsay Park stable of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig after last year's spring carnival.

It marked the start of Criterion's world travels which began with a trip to Hong Kong last December.

He returned to Australia in the autumn and won the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick before embarking on another overseas adventure.

First stop was Hong Kong in April and then England where he took on some of Europe's best at Royal Ascot in June and again in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.

After that race the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup became a priority for the stable.

Criterion travelled back to Australia alongside some of the international contenders for the major spring races.

He emerged from a two-week stint in quarantine to score a first-up win in the Caulfield Stakes before running second to Winx in the Cox Plate.

That effort convinced Hayes and Dabernig to press ahead to Tuesday's race.

"You have to take your hat off to him," Dabernig said.

"He joined us 12 months ago and he's so well travelled.

"He's an outstanding athlete and racehorse that has done a terrific job."

Dabernig said Criterion had relaxed well during the race and had handled his first attempt at 3200m.

Jockey Michael Walker wasn't able to get clear running at the top of the Flemington straight and felt Criterion might have troubled the first pair if he did.

"All I needed was an out and I thought I could win," Walker said.

"I just had to wait for the last furlong and the others flashed by. I would've been in it had I got out at the top of the straight."