KEY POINTS:
New Zealand galloper Mandela will have to run well in Saturday's Saab Quality at Flemington to justify a Cup start, trainer Richard Yuill says.
Yuill hasn't engaged a Melbourne Cup rider yet and is leaving his options open until Saturday night, even though Mandela is already qualified. "He'll have to prove himself on Saturday after the Caulfield Cup run," Yuill said.
Craig Newitt, who is booked for the Mike Moroney mare Eskimo Queen in the Cup, is Saturday's rider for Mandela, who will carry 56kg in the Saab (2500m).
Mandela ran a disappointing 11th in the Caulfield Cup on October 20 after rider Danny Nikolic gave him a perfect trip close to the speed.
But Yuill couldn't fault his work over 1600m with a mate from the Colin Alderson stable at Flemington's Breakfast with the Stars yesterday.
