Bookmakers' favourite could miss the Caulfield Cup

Punters are waiting to see whether or not Speed Gifted will appear in Saturday's Caulfield Cup after trainer Lee Freedman indicated the galloper may be held for a Melbourne Cup attempt.

Wet weather could play a part in the decision, with rain forecast every day this week for Caulfield, including Saturday.

Speed Gifted, currently the favourite for the weekend's Caulfield Cup, won the Metropolitan at Sydney on a heavy surface.

Bookmaker IASbet currently rates him a 5.50 shot for Saturday, ahead of Vigor on 7.50, and is also currently at 15.00 for the Cox Plate with the same bookmaker.

IASbet also currently has Speed Gifted down as joint second favourite for the Melbourne Cup on 7.00.

A decision from Freedman on the British import is expected on Tuesday morning.

Elsewhere the draw of the Melbourne Cup seems to have taken Ready To Lift off the agenda for Saturday.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said the mare's unplaced finish in the Metropolitan Handicap is not the best warm-up to the 2400m headliner.

Ready To Lift was one of the favourites for the Metropolitan but finished way off the pace and is more likely to appear in the David Jones Cup on Saturday, while the Moonee Valley Cup the Saturday after is also possible.