Maluckyday storms into Cup contention

Lightly-raced stayer Maluckyday has forced his way into the Melbourne Cup with a barnstorming victory in the Lexus Stakes but is no guarantee to run in the big race on Tuesday.

Having just his eighth start, Maluckyday came from near last in a field stacked with Group One winners to beat Linton by 1-3/4 lengths with a half neck to Once Were Wild.

Trainer John Hawkes will decide in the next few hours whether Maluckyday lines up in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

"We've got until five o'clock," Hawkes said.

"I'll just see how he pulls up and then we'll decide.

"He is still immature and maybe we'll wait for next year."

Maluckyday is raced by Nick Moraitis who won the 1997 Cup with Might And Power but will leave a decision on 2010 to Hawkes.

"It's up to the trainer," he said.

The four-year-old has been given a 1kg penalty for the Cup, taking him to 51kg if the decision is made to run.

Once Were Wild is safely in the Cup and will be ridden by Jim Cassidy, who rode Maluckyday.

Her Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemate Herculian Prince who led early, weakened to finish 12th and is off to the spelling paddock.

"She's in with a light weight (51.5kg) in the Cup and she's a terrific chance," Waterhouse said.

"Herculian Prince will go for a spell."

Waterhouse also has Caulfield Cup winner Descarado in the big race on Tuesday.

Nick Williams, representing his father Lloyd, said the stable would pay up for Linton and Mourayan who finished seventh in the Lexus.

Doubt surrounds Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel who finished a long last with Glen Boss saying she did not feel right.

Master O'Reilly, who has run in the past four Melbourne Cups, has been passed fit after concerns he had not recovered from a bout of colic.

Ciaron Maher has given up on a Cup start for Lexus fourth placegetter Moudre who will now be spelled and be set for next year.

"He has come a long way in a short time," Maher said.

Story from The Age