Daffodil - Harris Tweed - Spin Around - Gallions Reach - Capecover - Six O'Clock News - Sterling Prince - Hoorang - Mr Tipsy - Young Centaur - Red Ruler

Yahoo Xtra Sport

Daffodil's Melbourne Cup plans are on track, with a quick recovery from a deep cut sustained in the Caulfield Cup.

Daffodil ran fourth in the Caulfield Cup on October 17, but returned to the birdcage with a blood flowing from a nasty cut just below one of her knees.

Manawatu trainer Kevin Gray said the cut had healed.

"It was a deep cut which swelled up, but she is excellent now. You can hardly see it at all."

"We gave her a few days off and put her on light duties, but it was not so severe that you could not work her."

Daffodil, last season's Australian AJC Oaks winner, had improved since her Caulfield Cup effort, Gray said.

"She had a bit of a blow after the Cup and that race will tighten her up. She has trained on well and we are very pleased with her."

Daffodil will be 73-year-old Gray's first Melbourne Cup runner.

He said he was keeping his feet on the ground, but was nevertheless excited at the prospect.

Jockey Chris Munce certainly is. He rang Gray last night to check on her progress. "He rode three winners (at Sydney) yesterday so that's good form. He is keen to ride her again and really rates her," Gray said.

Daffodil and Harris Tweed are the two New Zealand-trained runners guaranteed of a run in the Cup, while Spin Around, Gallions Reach and Capecover should all make the field comfortably through the attrition rate expected.

Gallions Reach and Capecover will both run in the listed Bendigo Cup (2200m) on Wednesday, with their respective trainers, Richard Yuill and Alexander Fieldes, wanting to see some healthy form to warrant paying the final Cup declaration on Saturday.

The position for horses such as Six O'Clock News, Sterling Prince and Hoorang, who are 45th, 46th and 49th in the order of entry, will become clearer when the next round of acceptances are declared tomorrow.

Six O'Clock News and Sterling Prince will run in the Lexus Quality (formerly the Saab) over 2500m if they still need to force their way into the Cup field, their trainers said today. The winner of the Lexus is exempt from the Cup ballot.

Mr Tipsy, Young Centaur and Red Ruler are out of Cup reckoning, having returned to New Zealand for spells.

Australian horses who won't figure in tomorrow's declarations include Whobegotyou, Ready To Lift, Guyno and Mr Clangtastic.