Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Viewed will be Bart Cummings' only runner in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes after the master trainer decided to defer the reappearance of Cox Plate winner So You Think.Viewed ran last to Theseo in last year's Mackinnon before taking out the Cup at 40-1 by a nose from Bauer three days later and Cummings is happy to use the same lead-up to the $5.65 million event this year."He's going nicely and he worked nicely this morning and everything looks promising," Cummings sa
Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Viewed will be Bart Cummings' only runner in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes after the master trainer decided to defer the reappearance of Cox Plate winner So You Think.
Viewed ran last to Theseo in last year's Mackinnon before taking out the Cup at 40-1 by a nose from Bauer three days later and Cummings is happy to use the same lead-up to the $5.65 million event this year.
"He's going nicely and he worked nicely this morning and everything looks promising," Cummings said after Viewed, handled by track rider Joe Agresta, galloped solo on the course proper at Flemington.
The six-year-old was timed over 1600 metres in a leisurely 1:53.85, running his final 400m in 24.37 seconds.
"I nominated So You Think for the Mackinnon in case we wanted to proceed, but I'm just thinking it might be better to give him two weeks in between," Cummings said.
AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor and Toorak Handicap winner Allez Wonder will both go into the Cup without another run.
The pair worked together on Tuesday morning over 1800m in 2:8.96, the final 400m in 24.05s.
"They're going straight in (to the Cup)," Cummings said.
Cummings said Roman Emperor took longer than he expected to recover from his Caulfield Cup second to Viewed, prompting the decision to bypass the Mackinnon (2000m).
"He's pretty right now. If I run him on Saturday I'd expect he wouldn't be at his best by Tuesday," Cummings said.
"The Montjeus don't need a lot and they seem better - particularly on the wet tracks they prefer - with not too severe a preparation from what I can gather."
Dandaad and Naval Escort each need a win in The Lexus Stakes (2500m) to force their way into the Cup to give Cummings a fourth runner in his attempt to make it 13 Melbourne Cups.
"They worked pretty good (together) this morning so that was encouraging," Cummings said.
Moonee Valley Cup placegetter Think Money is ineligible for The Lexus as she is still a maiden and if she doesn't make the 24-horse Cup field Cummings says he will run her in The Lavazza Long Black (2800m) on Cup Day, a race he won last year with Dandaad.
Trainer Danny O'Brien says he will accept on Wednesday with his two Cup prospects Vigor and Master O'Reilly in the Mackinnon.
Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor is currently 28th in the elimination order after Lee Freedman notified stewards Speed Gifted would not be a Cup final acceptor and would be sent for a spell.
The gelding pulled up with sore feet after running 12th in the Cox Plate.
"It would be disappointing (to miss a run in the Cup with Vigor). Hopefully there are a few that will come out between now and next Tuesday," O'Brien said.
"If he's going to miss out we would have to roll the dice and run him in the Mackinnon."
Master O'Reilly, eighth as favourite in 2007 and fourth in last year's Cup, will run in the Mackinnon which he has not contested in the past.
In 2007 he did not run again before the Cup after winning the Caulfield Cup, while last year he was 10th in the Cox Plate before going to the Cup.