Trainer Mark Kavanagh says Shocking is peaking at the right time for the Australian Cup as jockey Michael Rodd prepares for his first ride in the Group One feature on the Melbourne Cup winner.Kavanagh said Shocking was a run short last start when sixth, second up, in the St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and had trained on as he would have hoped the last two weeks heading in to Saturday's big race."It was an encouraging run last start but I have trained him to keep improving and to be ready

Trainer Mark Kavanagh says Shocking is peaking at the right time for the Australian Cup as jockey Michael Rodd prepares for his first ride in the Group One feature on the Melbourne Cup winner.

Kavanagh said Shocking was a run short last start when sixth, second up, in the St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and had trained on as he would have hoped the last two weeks heading in to Saturday's big race.

"It was an encouraging run last start but I have trained him to keep improving and to be ready for the day," Kavanagh said.

"Last start I thought he was going to win on the turn but his condition gave out the last 100 metres but he has come on from that."

Shocking hasn't raced at Flemington since winning last year's Melbourne Cup and would emulate past Melbourne Cup winners Let's Elope (1992) and Makybe Diva (2005) if he was to go on and win the Australian Cup.

Kavanagh is planning the Australian Cup as a springboard for Shocking into the Sydney carnival where his Group One goals will be the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and The BMW (2400m).

All three races are at weight-for-age and Kavanagh believes the Australian Cup is a good race this year to try and prove Shocking at the level.

"It's a pretty even field and a good Australian Cup to be having a crack at weight-for-age," Kavanagh said.

"He likes Flemington with the nice long straight so there are a few positives although he has never won third up.

"It is a hard race to pick the winner but I am sure he will be around the mark.

"We just want a strong, well run race unlike his last couple of races where they have walked and had to take off earlier than they normally would have to."

Illness two years ago and a suspension last year have prevented Rodd from having an Australian Cup ride until now.

"Hopefully it will be a winning start," Rodd said.

"Obviously he (Shocking) is going to come on fitness wise from his last run and while he is third up I think Mark will have him pretty right.

"As long as there is a bit of pace on and the track is not too hard then I think he will go really well."

Shocking tightened with TAB Sportsbet overnight from $7.50 to $7 and is now challenging Heart Of Dreams ($6.50) for favouritism.

Heart Of Dreams is a weight-for-age winner of the Underwood Stakes last spring but has failed at his only two starts beyond 1800 metres.

Zipping is $8 and is having his first Australian Cup start despite campaigning in the past four autumn carnivals which included a ninth to Weekend Hussler in the 2008 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

Trained by Robert Hickmott, Zipping has raced 40 times which is the most of any of the 16 Australian Cup runners while former English galloper Our Aqaleem (six starts), who is $13, and $18 chance Tobique (nine starts) are the least experienced in the race.