Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde says a Caulfield Cup start would be a bonus for Hissing Sid on the way to this year's Melbourne Cup.Hissing Sid is equal 28th in the order of elimination but would be exempt from the ballot for next week's Cup should he win Saturday's Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.He would also be liable for penalty for the Melbourne Cup which would almost certainly get him a start in the famous race on November 3."I suppose you probably nearly have to run in

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde says a Caulfield Cup start would be a bonus for Hissing Sid on the way to this year's Melbourne Cup.

Hissing Sid is equal 28th in the order of elimination but would be exempt from the ballot for next week's Cup should he win Saturday's Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

He would also be liable for penalty for the Melbourne Cup which would almost certainly get him a start in the famous race on November 3.

"I suppose you probably nearly have to run in the Caulfield Cup if he won the Herbert Power but I would rather give him a preparation towards the Melbourne Cup," said Wilde, who trains the five-tear-old with his father Bill.

Hissing Sid qualified for the Melbourne Cup in May when he won the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) and last start was an eye-catching sixth when beaten two lengths by Red Lord in the Listed Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19.

"He was really good late in the Naturalism and I think he is crying out for 2400 metres," Wilde said.

"Running in the Caulfield Cup would be fantastic but if he won the Herbert Power it would go a long way to getting him to the Melbourne Cup."

Hissing Sid has 51kg in both Cups but a kilogram penalty for the Melbourne Cup would take him from 37th in the order of elimination to 30th with every chance of making the final field of 24.

"We are really hopeful he will run well in the Herbert Power," Wilde said.

"He ticks all the right boxes.

"His gallop this week was super and he is in with a nice weight, got a good barrier, good jockey and he's at his right distance."

Jockey Craig Newitt has equated Hissing Sid's last start with that of Speed Gifted who finished fourth and only a neck in front of him in the Naturalism before romping home in last Saturday's Group One The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.

"He needs to win to get into the Caulfield Cup but his run the other day was super and as good as Speed Gifted," Newitt said.

The Wildes could have two Caulfield Cup runners with Baughurst borderline to make the field of 18 and four emergencies.

The eight-year-old is equal 23rd in order of elimination and Wilde rates him a 50-50 chance of making the field even if he fails to win the Cup ballot-exempt Yalumba Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.

Meanwhile, trainer Mark Kavanagh is demanding a Herbert Power win from Queensland Derby runner-up Shocking who is also equal 23rd in the elimination order for the Caulfield Cup.

"I reckon the step up to 2400 metres will suit him," Kavanagh said.

"If he can't win this race he's not good enough to be in the Caulfield Cup.

"It's no good saying should've, could've, would've. If he can't get in the field he's not good enough."