David Hayes is set to bypass Saturday's Moonee Valley Cup with Fictional Account and wait a week for a final chance at Melbourne Cup qualification.

Fictional Account is one of 11 acceptors for the Group Two Moonee Valley Cup (2500m), known this year as the Drake International Cup.

But Hayes believes that even a victory on Saturday is unlikely to get the mare into the Melbourne Cup field as she is so far down the order of entry.

"If she wins at Moonee Valley it won't get her into the Cup with the way the Cup isn't falling away this year," Hayes said.

"I think we'll pass and wait for the Lexus Stakes."

The winner of the Lexus (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday week earns a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup three days later.

"She's going really well and I think she'll run very well," Hayes said.

"That's why we're going to go for one crack (at getting into the Cup."

Locally-prepared stayers Precedence and Midas Touch are joint favourites for the Moonee Valley Cup, along with international Ibicenco who will be trainer Luca Cumani's first runner at the track.

Cumani was expecting to have Afsare in Saturday's $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) but the galloper sustained a leg injury while preparing for the race at Werribee and has left Australia to return to England.