Trainer Luca Cumani has indicated Mount Athos could have just one more run before he returns to Australia for another shot at the Melbourne Cup.

Cumani has made no secret of the fact Mount Athos' whole season is being built around the Melbourne Cup again, in which he finished fifth last year.

He will start one of the favoured runners in the Goodwood Cup early Thursday morning (AEST) but Cumani says it will be a bonus if they can pick up another nice prize along the way having won the Ormonde at Chester.

"We think the Goodwood Cup places less emphasis on stamina than the other Cup races which is why he is running in this," Cumani said.

"Whether he'd run again before Melbourne after this I don't know, we'll have to see how he comes out of this and decide whether we think he needs another run."

Saeed bin Suroor runs three with last year's Gold Cup winner Colour Vision joined by Ahzeemah and Cavalryman.

John Oxx feels Saddler's Rock is heading into the defence of his Goodwood Cup crown in better form than he was before he disappointed in the Ascot Gold Cup.

However, the handler believes this year's renewal is a much stronger race, with horses like Mount Athos and Brown Panther stepping up in trip and unexposed in staying terms.