Trainer Mark Kavanagh expects tomorrow's group-two Memsie Stakes at Caulfield to answer any questions about the weight-for-age capability of talented four-year-old Tipungwuti.
Kavanagh said the 1400m Memsie would be the Fusaichi Pegasus gelding's biggest test, but he was happy for him to be taking on some turf titansincluding El Segundo, Haradasun, Miss Finland, Efficient and Blutigeroo.
"We have got to chuck him in the deep end sooner or later," Kavanagh said yesterday.
"At this stage we would like to see him head towards a decent Cup."
Betstar has Tipungwuti at $41 for both the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate. He was not entered for the Melbourne Cup.
Kavanagh said it was important for Tipungwuti to race this weekend after the equine influenza (EI) outbreak had disrupted racing around Australia for the last week.
"We can't be too choosy because you have got to get a run or two into horses right now because of what's happened," Kavanagh said.
Tipungwuti hadn't missed any work as a result of the lockdown of training tracks this week.
"We had the track [at Flemington] shut one day but we kept the work up to him with a walking machine," he said.
"He galloped very well on Tuesday morning and all systems are go for tomorrow."
Tipungwuti finished sixth when he resumed in the weight-for-age Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on August 11 and the Memsie fits perfectly into his campaign.
"He got back too far in Adelaide the other day in a race where not many horses ran on," Kavanagh said.
Tipungwuti will be ridden for the first time by Michael Rodd in the Memsie, which is restricted to 14 runners and four emergencies.
He is 16th in order of entry and has been nominated for the 1500m handicap at Moonee Valley tomorrow night as a precaution.
Dwayne Dunn won the group two Tulloch Stakes (2000m) on Tipungwuti at Rosehill on March 31, giving Kavanagh good reason to believe he can be a force in the spring.
