Danny rolls the dice for Caravan in Lexus

Danny O’Brien will nominate and accept with ex-EuropeanCaravan Rolls On in Saturday’s Lexus Stakes at Flemington, reports Racing Network.

But O’Brien hopes there may be enough attrition to the horses above Caravan Rolls On on the Melbourne Cup order of entry that he does not have to start the Geelong Cup winner in the Lexus Stakes.

With the trainers of Silent Achiever and Black Tycoonannouncing on Sunday that their horses would not progress to the Melbourne Cup, Caravan Rolls On has moved to the equivalent of 27th in the order of entry.

Racing Victoria stewards will vet-check UK mare My Ambivalent, who pulled up short in her action following a piece of work last Friday, after she gallops at Werribee on Tuesday.

Second declarations are due for the Melbourne Cup on Monday.

The top 35 horses in the order of entry after second declarations will undergo veterinary examinations on Thursday or Friday.

The final Melbourne Cup field of 24 will be announced on Saturday night by the VRC committee.

As it currently stands, Unchain My Heart, who ran 17th in the Caulfield Cup behind Admire Rakti, is 24th on the order of entry.

The winner of the Lexus Stakes is guaranteed a start in the Melbourne Cup and would push down by one spot all horses on the order of entry without ballot exemptions.

Mike Moroney says he’s toying with the idea of running Araldo, who finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup, in Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes.

“I’m preferring to give him more time between runs, but I’ll throw in a nom for the Mackinnon,” Moroney said.

Araldo, who is currently 23rd on the order of entry, will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn in the Melbourne Cup.