Septimus could miss the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday if the ground is too firm. Derrick Smith, one of the spearheads behind the mighty Coolmore operation, was unhappy with conditions at Flemington during Saturday's Victoria Derby meeting.
Smith will recommend to Aidan O'Brien that Septimus be taken out of the race if the going is as fast on Tuesday.
"If the track is as firm on Tuesday as it was (on Saturday), I'll be asking Aidan to scratch," Smith told The Age. "I don't think this track is fair for any of our horses.
"It got too firm, the surface, and I've got to think of the horse first.
"He's too valuable."
Victoria Racing Club chairman Rod Fitzroy attempted to soothe Coolmore's concerns by stating the track will be watered before Tuesday.
He said: "We will be watering tonight and again tomorrow if it is needed."
O'Brien will reportedly walk the course on Monday afternoon before making a decision on Septimus' participation.
The five-year-old entire, effortless winner of the Irish St Leger on his last start, is joint-ante-post favourite for the Melbourne Cup along with the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush.
Cumani was happy with the four-year-old colt having been drawn in gate four.
He said: "Four is good as it allows us to save ground all the way around.
"Hopefully, we won't get shuffled too far back and Ollie (Damien Oliver) will be able to get a good position and hold that position into the straight."
Cumani also saddles Geelong Cup scorer Bauer in the Melbourne Cup, for which he will break from gate 13.
Dermot Weld is confident Profound Beauty will stay two miles. The four-year-old filly has yet to be tested over a mile and six furlongs but has in the last few days been the subject of heavy market support.
Weld, who won the Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), said: "I was pleasantly surprised that she got the mile and six the day she won (at Leopardstown in July).
"And having watched it again, she gives every reason that she should get the two miles.
"If she gets the two miles, she should be in the shake-up.
"She's not really bred to stay but she's relaxed and we're hopeful.
"I'm very happy with her and I expect her to run a good race, but think Septimus and Mad Rush are going to be very hard to beat."
Profound Beauty has been drawn in stall two and is as low as 7-1 to win the Melbourne Cup.