The equation for import Jet Away in the Mackinnon Stakes is simple.

Win or miss out on a Melbourne Cup berth.

The scenario for three-time Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss is almost the same.

Boss has his Melbourne Cup hopes pinned on Jet Away and insists the "throw at the stumps" is worth it as victory in Saturday's Mackinnon (2000m) at Flemington would put Jet Away in contention in Tuesday's $6.2 million Cup.

Otherwise Boss, who won the Melbourne Cup three times on Makybe Diva, risks watching the Cup from the grandstand.

"If he does win the Mackinnon and win nicely, I'd be very confident that he could win a Melbourne Cup," Boss said of Jet Away.

"But you've got to get the right draw and get the right run."

Jet Away turned in what was widely considered the run of the race in the Caulfield Cup last start, finishing fourth after doing a mountain of work in the run.

"You just had to be blind Freddy to not see his run in the Caulfield Cup. I have never witnessed a horse do that," Boss said.

He felt that performance dismissed any doubts over the horse's stamina and is confident the David Hayes-trained galloper can win the Mackinnon should he do everything right.

"I'm pretty confident he wins (the Mackinnon)," Boss said.

"He should go out there and win. You just want to see him go out there and do it well.

"And If he does happen to win, you want to see him recover quickly after the race. That will be the biggest key."

The winner of the Mackinnon gains ballot free entry to the Melbourne Cup.

Boss considers the winners of the Lexus Stakes and the Mackinnon Stakes to always be strong Cup contenders.

He rides Araldo in the Lexus and should he win and Jet Away fail in the Mackinnon, Boss has the option to partner him in the Cup.

Jet Away is favourite for the Mackinnon ahead of dual Toorak Handicap winner Solzhenitsyn who has his first attempt at 2000m.

Solzhenitsyn is out to become the first horse since Leilani in 1974 to win the Toorak and the Mackinnon in the same year.