Irish trainer Willie Mullins took a significant step toward atoning for his minor placing in last year's $6.2 million Melbourne Cup when his stayer Wicklow Brave worked impressively at Geelong on Wednesday.

Last year Mullins had to be content with second place when his galloper Max Dynamite finished behind Prince Of Penzance.

But Mullins and his travelling foreman Dave Casey have learnt from last year's spring carnival and are managing to tweak the training patterns for Wicklow Brave.

Wicklow Brave put himself into Melbourne Cup contention when he scored an impressive win in the Irish St Leger on September 11.

In his first serious gallop since landing in Australia, Wicklow Brave – with Caery on board – worked powerfully over 2400 metres with Casey rating his workout as "strong".

"He can be an active horse under gallop but today was grand," Casey said.

"Time-wise, 13 days to the race, it suits us fine to take him away and open up his pipes a little bit and that's what we've done."

Those close to Wicklow Brave believe there is little comparison between the Melbourne Cup hopeful and Max Dynamite.

"Max was easy to do because he was so laid-back, this fella is a little more active and you have to be mindful of what you are doing," Casey said.

"It probably took him a couple of more days to settle in."

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Wicklow Brave will go into the Melbourne Cup without having a lead-up race.

"If we can keep him sound and in good form in the next 13 days, you never know what can happen," Casey said.

"You need a lot of luck with the draw but he's well and the form is standing up from his races.

"This fella will handle most ground as it is but we wouldn't mind if it was a little bit slow – it would've helped Max last year."

Casey was impressed with Caulfield Cup-winner Jameka's performance and said she will cope perfectly with the 3200m.

"You have to respect her, wherever she goes, but it's probably franked the form for Hartnell who beat her easily," Casey said.

Meanwhile, a jumpout at Flemington on Friday morning may hold the key to the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes with outstanding three-year-olds Extreme Choice,  Astern, Capitalist, Star Turn and Russian Revolution nominated to trial.

The group 1 contest over 1200m on Derby Day is being billed as the race of the spring by many, as it will pitch the best sprinters of the three-year-old generation against each other.

Extreme Choice will get his chance to experience the Flemington straight track after being granted permission to contest the jumpout, which will take place over 800m at 6.15am.

Normally jumpouts at Flemington are reserved for horses trained at the famous course but Victoria Racing Club officials have allowed the Caulfield-trained sprinter to take part.