Caulfield Cup favourite Speed Gifted is not a certain starter in the race with trainer Lee Freedman leaving the option open to run him in the Cox Plate a week later on the way to the Melbourne Cup.Speed Gifted was given a two kilogram penalty for his win in Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick taking him to 53kg for both Cups.The European import needed to win the Metropolitan (2400m) to pass the first elimination clause for the Caulfield Cup on October 17 and the weight increase ensures

Caulfield Cup favourite Speed Gifted is not a certain starter in the race with trainer Lee Freedman leaving the option open to run him in the Cox Plate a week later on the way to the Melbourne Cup.

Speed Gifted was given a two kilogram penalty for his win in Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick taking him to 53kg for both Cups.

The European import needed to win the Metropolitan (2400m) to pass the first elimination clause for the Caulfield Cup on October 17 and the weight increase ensures he will get into the field.

Speed Gifted travelled straight home to Victoria and Freedman said he would monitor his progress over the next week before making a Caulfield Cup decision

"He will either go to the Caulfield Cup or go to the Melbourne Cup with a run under his belt," Freedman told Sydney's Sky Sports Radio.

"The Cox Plate is the one other option.

"It's all to do with the recovery and if he recovers quick enough for Caulfield that will be the race we aim him at.

"If we need extra time we might run in the Cox Plate.

"He got back last night, he's eaten well and will have a few light days at the beach and in the paddock and then we will assess things."

Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter was impressed by the ease of Speed Gifted's Metropolitan win and penalised him accordingly.

"Speed Gifted dominated his opposition in the Metropolitan Handicap and while the race was run on rain affected going he had already won impressively at Flemington on good going since the weights were released," he said.

"The penalty is greater than those imposed on the most recent winners of the Metropolitan reflecting the ease of his victory.

Light Vision remained on 52.5kg for both Cups with Carpenter deciding not to give him a penalty for his win in Saturday's Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.