A fringe Caulfield Cup candidate until breathtaking Herbert Power Stakes victory, Yucatán ($7) is now third favourite for the Saturday’s Cup behind Youngstar ($5) and Kings Will Dream ($6).

GUINEAS ROUT: THE AUTUMN SUN GLOWS RED HOT

EVEREST ROMP: REDZEL AT PEAK OF HIS POWERS

DOUBLE DELIGHT: WEIR BAGS TWO GROUP 1S

WINX CHALLENGE: IMPORT THE REAL DEAL

Despite being assured a run with only 52kg, he is no certainty to start with senior owner Lloyd Williams prioritising a possible seventh Melbourne Cup success.

Elated with Yucatan’s devastating performance, Williams is mindful Caulfield Cup victory would potentially draw another Melbourne Cup re-handicap.

Yucatán is currently 55th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry with 52kg but seems likely to receive a penalty of at least 2kg.

Amralah, another Macedon Lodge-owned galloper, won the Herbert Power in similar fashion in 2015 with 58kg and was given a 2kg penalty before missing the Cup with injury.

Yucatan’s victory with 56kg was at least as good and might have threatened Diatribe’s long-standing 2400m course record of 2:25.32 had he not been eased down by James McDonald over the last 150m, recording 2:26.47.

The sheer arrogance of an extraordinary late-race surge — a paralysing 22.78sec burst from the 600m-200m — prompted bookmakers to slash his price from $101 for the Caulfield Cup.

The victory propelled Yucatan to No. 5 in the Cup order, exempt from ballot.

But Williams said no decision would be made until Tuesday, pending discussions with Aidan O’Brien.

With Yucatan, Harlem (equal ninth) and Emotionless (equal 13th) uncertain of taking their places, there is a host of runners clamouring for places in the 18-horse field.

If Carpenter gave Yucatán a 2.5kg Melbourne Cup penalty he would almost certainly be assured a Melbourne Cup berth.

McDonald, who is provisionally committed to The Taj Mahal in the Caulfield Cup, was amazed by Yucatan’s acceleration and stamina.

“When I took the ride, they (Williams family) gave him some rap. They said this is our Melbourne Cup horse,” he said.

“They said ‘He’s as good as we’ve ever brought out’. He’s much better than Johannes Vermeer and he ran second (in the Melbourne Cup).

“That was an incredible performance. Not many can do that. I thought he’s going to paddle at some stage but he didn’t. When I let him stride, I thought he can’t sustain this gallop but he did.

“He doesn’t feel like a two-miler. He feels like a miler. That’s how fast he is.”

Racing Victoria stewards will today rule on whether Charlie Appleby’s Emotionless is allowed to accept for the Caulfield Cup.

The horse will undergo bone scans after injuring a hind leg during trackwork. He has not been galloped since.

Another Appleby galloper Hamada was put down on Saturday after fracturing a hind leg.

OCTABELLO TOO STRONG IN CRANBOURNE CUP

TRAINER Mick Price has been proven correct with his decision to tackle the Listed Cranbourne Cup with Octabello.

The victory of Octabello denied Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young victory in their hometown Cup.

Ridden by Noel Callow, Octobello ($17) lunged late to beat Sully ($11) with the $1.80 favourite Furrion in third place.

Callow suggested to Price a benchmark 78 race at Caulfield on Wednesday would have been an ideal race for Octabello, but Price elected to tackle Sunday’s Cup and walked away with the majority of $350,000 prizemoney.

“He was desperately unlucky the other day and if I had my way I wanted him to run at Caulfield on Wednesday,” Callow told broadcaster racing.com. “But Mick said ‘no, it’s a nice little race for him’.

“He had a beautiful run behind the favourite and all I needed was something to happen, but it didn’t, so I made something happen and got the chocolates.”

With AAP

CAULFIELD CUP

Examine runners in with chance to start Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

1. BEST SOLUTION

Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor

Jockey: Pat Cosgrave

Starts: 21:8-2-3

Caulfield: 0-0-0

Odds: $17

Versatile and tough stayer in peak form. Has shouldered 60kg in winning two Group 1s and a Group 2.

2. HOMESMAN

Trainer: Liam Howley

Jockey: Ben Melham

Starts: 12: 4-3-1

Caulfield: 3: 2-0-0

Odds: $13

Been shaping well as a Caulfield Cup until failure in the Underwood Stakes. Back to a handicap and likes Caulfield so not out of it.

3. YUCATAN

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 13: 3-3-3

Caulfield: 1: 1-0-0

Odds: $7

Incredible Herbert Power Stakes win over Cup course and distance. A decision will be made early in the week as to whether he runs.

4. KINGS WILL DREAM

Trainer: Darren Weir

Jockey: Craig Williams

Starts: 12: 6-1-4

Caulfield: 2: 0-0-1

Odds: $6

Has been set for this race since winning the Mornington Cup. Great run in the Turnbull.

5. NIGHT’S WATCH

Trainer: Darren Weir

Jockey: Ben Allen

Starts: 18: 8-2-2

Caulfield: 4: 3-0-0

Odds: $9

Not disgraced when sixth in the Caulfield Stakes. Looked a bit dour in the closing stages. Should be ready for 2400m and drops down to 52kg.

6. ACE HIGH

Trainer: David Payne

Jockey: Damien Oliver

Starts: 21: 5-3-0

Caulfield: 0:0-0-0

Odds: $13

Victoria Derby winner and comes off last-start win in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m).

7. THE CLIFFSOFMOHER

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Jockey: Hugh Bowman

Starts: 16-3-3-2

Caulfield: 1: 0-0-0

Odds: $9

Runner-up in last year’s Derby to stablemate Wings Of Eagles. Ran a strong fourth in the Caulfield Stakes behind Benbatl on Saturday.

8. UNFORGOTTEN

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Michael Walker

Starts: 13: 6-2-1

Caulfield: 1: 0-0-0

Odds: $13

Not much went right in the Caulfield Stakes. Step up to 2400m is ideal and will carry only 52.5kg. Query whether she’ll run.

9. JON SNOW

Trainer: Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman

Jockey: Damian Lane

Starts: 20: 4-1-6

Caulfield: 3: 0-0-1

Odds: $51

Tough Kiwi whose two Australian runs have been sound. Loves it wet. Unlucky in the Caulfield Cup last year.

10. SOUND CHECK

Trainer: Michael Moroney

Jockey: Jordan Childs

Starts: 16: 7-2-1

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $17

Has four wins from 2200-2800m. Group 2 winner and narrowly beaten by Best Solution last start.

11. HARLEM

Trainer: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 25: 4-2-2

Caulfield: 6: 1-1-0

Odds: $51

Australian Cup winner who has been steadily building towards peak form. Stable won this race last year with Boom Time. Unlikely to run after poor effort in the Caulfield Stakes.

12. TOSEN BASIL

Trainer: Darren Weir

Jockey: John Allen

Starts: 23: 5-4-3

Caulfield: 2: 0-1-0

Odds: $17

A Caulfield Cup run is in doubt after his disappointing effort in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday.

13. CHESTNUT COAT

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey: Yuga Kawada

Starts: 17: 4-5-1

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $26

Good fifth in the Tenno Sho marks him out as serious contender. Two wins from three 2400m attempts.

14. MIGHTY BOSS

Trainer: Mick Price

Jockey: Tim Clark

Starts: 13: 2-1-0

Caulfield: 6: 1-0-0

Odds: $101

Best win was at $101 in last year’s Caulfield Guineas. He’s going to be at similar odds.

15. EMOTIONLESS

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Jockey:N/A

Starts: 10: 3-2-1

Odds: N/A

Stewards will decide today if the horse is fit to accept for the race. Unlikely.

16. THE TAJ MAHAL

Trainer: Liam Howley

Jockey: James McDonald

Starts: 23: 3-4-3

Caulfield: 1: 0-0-0

Odds: $17

Flying. Strong win in the JRA Cup at The Valley. Won Zipping Classic last spring.

17. YOUNGSTAR

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

Starts: 11: 4-1-3

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $17

Briefly threatened to beat her illustrious stablemate Winx in the Turnbull Stakes. Extra distance ideal and will only carry 51.5kg.

18. EGG TART

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 21: 7-2-4

Caulfield: 1: 0-0-0

Odds: $17

Made up ground for third in bog conditions at Randwick on Saturday. Stable undecided whether she will back up.

19. DURETTO

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Dwayne Dunn

Starts: 21: 6-4-3

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $26

Four of six wins have come at 2400m. Veteran in the best form of his career.

20. COUNT OCTAVE

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Michael Walker

Starts: 11: 2-3-3

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $51

Only two wins have come at 2400m. Has thrived at Werribee under Chris Waller’s care.

21. RED VERDON

Trainer: Ed Dunlop

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 25: 4-9-1

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $26

Has been competing at elite levels in England and seemingly developing into a bridesmaid because of minor injury issues. Talented and capable.

22. FINCHE

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 8: 3-0-2

Caulfield: 0: 0-0-0

Odds: $51

Intriguing runner. Son of Frankel who was a last start Group 3 winner at Deauville in August when trained by Andre Fabre. Since been transferred to Chris Waller.

23. BIG DUKE

Trainer: Darren Weir

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 26: 7-4-4

Caulfield: 6: 1-0-0

Odds: $101

Terrible run in the Herbert Power. His jockey Craig Williams could offer no explanation. Doubtful to back up.

24. VENGEUR MASQUE

Trainer: Mike Moroney

Jockey: Patrick Moloney

Starts: 25: 4-4-0

Caulfield: 6: 0-0-0

Odds: $101

Capable stayer who was a little disappointing last start when fifth in The Bart Cummings. He’ll strip fitter but is a query in this class.

25. SEDANZER

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Tim Clark

Starts: 22: 8-2-1

Caulfield: 1: 0-0-0

Odds: $101

Terrible run in the Caulfield Stakes when last on Saturday. He’s an unlikely starter.

26.

MISS ADMIRATION

Trainer: Mick Price

Jockey: N/A

Starts: 18: 2-0-3

Caulfield: 3: 0-0-1

Odds: $101

Useful staying mare who ran on well in the Herbert Power. She’s trained on the track so if she can get a start expect they’ll take it.