March 9 - This week Australian horseracing betting fans were relieved to learn that Shocking, winner of last year's coveted Melbourne Cup (Gr 1), has responded to antibiotics to clear up a suspected abscess in one of his legs, which means he should be fit for Saturday's AUD$1 million Australian Cup (Gr 1).

Scheduled for last Saturday at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse, the 2000m Australian Cup, along with the $750,000 Australian Guineas (Gr 1) and the rest of the card, was cancelled as a result of heavy rain. However, if the wet weather holds off Melbourne betting fans will be back on track on Saturday.

While last weekend's postponement will no doubt have peeved off most of the horsemen at Flemington, for Shocking's trainer, Mark Kavanagh, the extra week was more than welcome where Shocking was concerned, because it gave him more time to recover from his foot issue ahead of the Australian Cup.

Although by his own admission Shocking has a 95 per cent chance of running in Saturday's big race, he seems to be back to his old self. Kavanagh's racing manager, Merv Harvey, confirmed that on Monday Shocking was 'jumping out of skin', and that a test gallop scheduled for Wednesday will confirm his fitness.

After the abscess was discovered on Friday, Shocking was put on antibiotics. 'We are not totally convinced it was an abscess as he has got a bit separation in the wall of his foot and some bug or something might have got up there,' said Harvey. 'By Sunday morning he was as good as gold and ready to run.'

So with Lady Luck seemingly in the corner of Shocking and his connections, the million dollar question is how he'll fare in the Australian Cup? The only concern the thoroughbred's connections have is that the mysterious 'abscess' may flare up again before Saturday, which is why he will be closely monitored.

Meanwhile, trainer Peter Moody has set his Australian Guineas hopes in two of his charges, Hanks and Set For Fame. However, he has also nominated them for the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1). Said Moody's racing manager, Jeff O'Connor, 'Both horses will run at Flemington unless something untoward happens.'