Carif only needs his CT scans to be given the nod of approval to finally get his chance to run in Australia’s most famous race, the Melbourne Cup.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained stayer has run in the Hotham Handicap (2500m) in the past two years attempting to force a passage into the race and come up short.
This year Carif is safely in the 2021 Melbourne Cup on November 2 as number 18 in the Order of Entry.
Peter Snowden said Carif underwent his scans on Monday with the stable just awaiting the all-clear.
“As disappointing as it is having to do it this close to the race for a trainer, it’s still a good thing,” Snowden said.
“It’s not picking up nothing, it’s picking up faults of the structural system which might not happen now, but it may happen later on,” Snowden said.
“The knowledge knowing that something is there, if there is something there, I think it’s a good thing and if you don’t pick up on what they’re telling you, you’re silly because you’ll get a problem later on.
“But it would be frustrating to get this close only for someone to turn around and tell you to pack your bags and go home.”
Carif had his CT scan in Sydney on Monday after finishing seventh in the Listed City Tattersalls Cup (2400m) at Randwick last Saturday which followed a fourth-place finish in the ATC St Leger (2600m) at Randwick the previous week.
Snowden said Carif was a proven “two-miler” with a win over the trip in the Sandown Cup last year and a second-place finish in this year’s Brisbane Cup.
“All being well he’ll be down here on Wednesday or Thursday morning,” Snowden said.
“It is a different preparation to previous years and he’s a proven two-miler, but whether he’s good enough to beat the A-graders, we’re happy enough to find out.”