The Melbourne Cup is in danger of being thrown into turmoil following a threat by the connections of the favourite Septimus to withdraw the horse from Tuesday's race if the Flemington track is too firm.

In the annual bid by foreign connections to get track conditions to suit their horses, the Magnier family that part-owns Septimus and is the major force behind the worldwide Coolmore racing and breeding empire, announced Sunday they would not risk Septimus on an "unsafe" track.

"We want safe ground," said Coolmore's Australian representative Tom Magnier.

"We want to walk out of here with a horse.

"We want to look after Septimus, we don't want to risk him."

A son of Coolmore's champion sire Sadler's Wells, Septimus is rated Europe's best stayer and is a valuable stud proposition.

His trainer Aidan O'Brien walked the Flemington track after Saturday's Derby Day meeting and immediately expressed concern.

The track had been rated a "dead four" at the start of the 10-race card, but had firmed up considerably by the time the final event was run some seven hours later.

O'Brien said he considered Saturday's track to be too firm for Septimus.

He plans to walk the Cup course on Monday before making any decision.

But the call for a track in the dead range for the Cup, which will be run around five hours into the card and at around 24 hours after it is watered, seems destined to fall on deaf ears at the Victoria Racing Club.

Track manager Mick Goody said he would not prepare a track that was any different from the one he presented for Saturday's Derby.

Showers are forecast for Melbourne between now and Tuesday, but it is likely they would confuse the issue rather than resolve it.

In the absence of worthwhile rain, Goody said he would not prepare the track at the request of any trainer.

"Damien Oliver came to me after the last race yesterday and told me the track was perfect," Goody said.

The issue of track ratings is a thorny one that has been played out several times by another Irish trainer, Dermot Weld.

But Weld, who will saddle the heavily-backed Cup runner Profound Beauty, is unusually quiet on the subject this year.

It isn't only the internationals who have attempted to influence the preparation of the Cup course.

Three years ago, Lee Freedman made a similar threat in relation to Makybe Diva before being assured on race morning the track was suitable and the champion mare went on to record a history-making third win.

The heavy backing for Profound Beauty has forced her price in from $16 a week ago to $9 Saturday night after she drew barrier two.

TAB Sportsbet reported a bet of $20,000 on the mare at $12 with the agency also fielding a bet on the Geelong Cup winner Bauer that could cost them $420,000.

All the international runners appeared on the track at Sandown on Sunday with the O'Brien team asked to do the most work.

The trio of Septimus, Alessandro Volta and Honolulu strode over 1600m before a stronger 1200m canter, the three horses finishing on terms.

Septimus retained favouritism after Saturday night's barrier draw and is a $4.50 chance with Tab Sportsbet, ahead of Mad Rush at $5 and the New Zealander Nom De Jeu at $9.

Mad Rush and his stablemate Bauer worked nicely Sunday with the latter being set the more demanding task.

Their trainer Luca Cumani put his wife Sarah on the horse Sunday and received a positive report while Mad Rush was ridden, as usual, by his daughter Francesca.

Cumani said he was satisfied with the condition of his horses who have both run outstanding races at their only Australian appearances.

Weld, the only European trainer to have won the Melbourne Cup, said Profound Beauty is in the race a year earlier than he would have liked.

But the attraction of carrying only 51.5kg in a race he was won twice swayed him toward bringing the mare, who is a four-year-old to northern hemisphere time.

Profound Beauty set a track record for 2800m when winning a Listed race at Leopardstown at her second last start, a victory that was her third from only 10 starts.

"Next year was going to be her year," Weld said.

"But she has a good weight so we decided to take our chance."

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