Melbourne Cup hero Shocking started the long build-up to defending his title when he began pre-training at Euroa on Monday.The Mark Kavanagh-trained rising five-year-old is being aimed at becoming only the sixth horse to win multiple Cups in what will be the 150th year of Australia's most famous race."He arrived at the pre-trainers at Euroa on Monday and will spend four weeks there with a number of my spring horses before coming to our stables here (at Flemington)," Kavanagh told Racing Victoria

Melbourne Cup hero Shocking started the long build-up to defending his title when he began pre-training at Euroa on Monday.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained rising five-year-old is being aimed at becoming only the sixth horse to win multiple Cups in what will be the 150th year of Australia's most famous race.

"He arrived at the pre-trainers at Euroa on Monday and will spend four weeks there with a number of my spring horses before coming to our stables here (at Flemington)," Kavanagh told Racing Victoria Online.

"He'll then have a good grounding here from the end of June to get him ready for the spring. He's a colt and a year older so he'll need the work."

While the $6 million Melbourne Cup remains Shocking's primary target, his path to the first Tuesday in November has not been set in concrete with races such as the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Cox Plate sure to be among the options.

"With a horse like him we'll keep our options open," Kavanagh said.

Three days before last year's Cup success, the Street Cry entire won the Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day before carrying 51kg to victory in the 3200m Cup.

Kavanagh is naturally optimistic that Shocking will be a better horse this spring after his summer-autumn campaign was cut short due to a hoof abscess.

He was restricted to just two starts, finishing eighth to Typhoon Tracy in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and sixth to La Rocket in the St George Stakes (1800m), both at Caulfield in February.

He was scratched the day before the running of the storm-delayed Australian Cup (2000m) won by Zipping at Flemington on March 13.

Nominations for the Melbourne Cup close on August 3 with weights to be released on September 1.

VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume is the early $17 favourite with corporate bookmaker Betstar ahead of Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel and Linton at $21 with Shocking at $26.