KEY POINTS:
D-day looms for New Zealand-trained Melbourne Cup contenders Railings and Mandela at Flemington on Saturday after their Caulfield Cup flops.
Railings, trained by Roger James, will line up in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) while Mandela will carry equal topweight of 57kg in the Saab Quality (2500m).
Both need to prove they are lengths better than their Caulfield Cup efforts to convince they're worthy of paying the A$41,250 ($50,0000) final cup declaration on Saturday night.
James said last night: "We're going to ride him wherever he's happy in the running, and I hope to see him making ground nicely at the end.
Mandela's Auckland trainer Richard Yuill hasn't planned anything past the Saab, in which he shares topweight with former Perth galloper Black Tom.
Craig Newitt will ride Mandela on Saturday but Yuill hasn't yet booked a cup rider.
