Sounds unlikely at face value.

But Nigel Blackiston, the trainer of Desert Jeuney, is optimistic the five-year-old can complete what would be a remarkable transformation at different ends of the group 1 scale in the Emirates Stakes (1600 metres).

Blackiston thought  the gelding shaped as a promising stayer after he had won over 1800 metres and 2000 metres at Sandown and Flemington as an early-season four-year-old.

But the son of Desert King - sire of legendary stayer Makybe Diva - did not deliver when taken to Sydney for distance events in the autumn. His best effort was a third behind Entirely Platinum in the group 3 Sky High Stakes (1900 metres).

As he got up in trip, running progressively over 2400, 2600 and 3200 metres, his performance levels dropped off.

Blackiston was nonplussed - until he realised that maybe the horse was, despite all the evidence to the contrary, not going to be a stayer after all.

After a couple of early-season sighters this spring, Desert Jeuney showed his liking for the 1600-metre trip when he belied his starting price of $61 to finish third in the group1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

He proved that effort was no fluke at Moonee Valley on Saturday when he ran another slashing race to finish third under unsuitable weight-for-age conditions behind Hooked and Bull Point in the group 2 Crystal Mile.

It was this run that confirmed to Blackiston that Desert Jeuney was better suited to 1600 metres rather than the marathon journeys.

"It was a huge run in the Toorak, and in the Emirates he would drop a lot of weight from the 59 [kilograms] he carried [on Saturday]," Blackiston said.

"We hope he will be on the minimum - 52 or 53 ... the horse is fine and in good form.

"He ran seventh or eighth in the Sydney Cup, we have brought him back and freshened him up and he's a lot happier, he's finding the line.

"I took him to Sydney, threw everything at him, the kitchen sink, I didn't think he was trying. He was looming up, not finishing off. Maybe he didn't stay. He is bred to get over ground but he's always got a good turn of foot and his fresh runs are always good."

Blackiston will know if his good mare Lets Make Adeal is any closer to a Melbourne Cup start on Monday when the next acceptances for the great race are taken.

She just missed out on a start in the Cup last year when narrowly beaten in the Lexus Stakes and will go there again on Saturday to try to confirm a spot in the race.

She showed she was in good form last start with a third behind Big Memory and Signoff in the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield.

"She's going terrific, she just needs a race with no bad luck. She ran seventh over two miles on a bog track in Sydney in the autumn and we will have a better idea [where she sits] with acceptances due on Monday."