The Melbourne Cup hopes of Godolphin-owned stayers Holberg and Eastern Aria are fading.The global racing powerhouse is only assured of one runner, Campanologist, after a modern-day record of 47 horses were paid up for the Cup as third acceptors on Monday.Holberg, trained Saeed Bin Suroor, is proven at 3200 metres and has 53.5kg in the Cup but is still only 31st in order of entry while the Mark Johnston-trained Eastern Aria is 33rd on the list.Frankie Dettori is already dieting to ride Holberg in

The Melbourne Cup hopes of Godolphin-owned stayers Holberg and Eastern Aria are fading.

The global racing powerhouse is only assured of one runner, Campanologist, after a modern-day record of 47 horses were paid up for the Cup as third acceptors on Monday.

Holberg, trained Saeed Bin Suroor, is proven at 3200 metres and has 53.5kg in the Cup but is still only 31st in order of entry while the Mark Johnston-trained Eastern Aria is 33rd on the list.

Frankie Dettori is already dieting to ride Holberg in the Cup but if the five-year-old fails to make the field the champion jockey will replace Kerrin McEvoy on Campanologist.

McEvoy admitted that at this stage it was looking increasing likely he wouldn't have a Cup mount.

"If Frankie is on Campanologist I will be in the jockeys' room cheering him on," McEvoy said.

McEvoy gave Holberg a searching 1400-metre gallop at Werribee on Monday and will give Campanologist a similar workout on Thursday.

McEvoy said both horses, along with Eastern Aria, were capable of winning the Melbourne Cup.

"I would really like two or three of them to line up in the race because I am sure they can be competitive," McEvoy said.

"All three look good in their coats.

"Campanologist is a quality performer and won two Group Ones in Europe this year while Holberg and Eastern Aria are both progressive staying types in with nice weights."

Holberg's work was his most serious since he arrived and McEvoy declared him ready for the Cup should he get a start.

"He felt good," McEvoy said. "He jumped straight in to the bridle and travelled really well throughout his work and finished it off in nice style."

McEvoy has a history with Campanologist who he won a two-year-old race on in England when trained by Mark Johnston in 2007.

"He is a bigger horse than Holberg and Eastern Aria."

McEvoy said he was hopeful that this would be the year for Godolphin to finally win the Cup after finishing second three times with Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene last year.

"One of Sheikh Mohammed's main goals in racing is to win the Melbourne Cup," McEvoy said.

"He has come quite close and it would be fantastic to see the blue colours sail across in front."

Trainer Luca Cumani won't know until after final acceptances at 5pm on Saturday whether he will have one, two or three runners in the race.

While Caulfield Cup fifth placegetter Manighar is assured of a run, Bauer, who ran second in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, is 24th in order of entry and stablemate Drunken Sailor is 32nd.

Cumani said Bauer, on the road back from a tendon injury, was a happy horse and at Werribee on Monday he was playful both on and off the track.

He said Manighar was training on well.

"I am pleased with him and especially pleased with his work this morning," Cumani said.

Cumani said Drunken Sailor had come though his unplaced Geelong Cup run in good order.