While King Charles III hosts US President Donald Trump in the UK, his potential Melbourne Cup contender Gilded Water will be chasing a more modest prize at Caulfield.

The Ciaron Maher-trained stayer lines up in Saturday’s benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m), his second start this campaign. Gilded Water was third first-up over 1800m on August 30 after two jump-outs at Cranbourne.

“He was a very good run first-up off a very light prep and I’m looking forward to seeing him on Saturday,” Maher said. “He’s going to have to sneak into the Cup through the back door … he’s grown up and improving all the time.”

Maher admits the Caulfield Cup will likely come too soon but hopes to aim at qualifiers such as the Group 3 The Bart Cummings, the Geelong Cup, or the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

“He’s a progressive stayer but things have to go right to get there,” Maher said.