O'Shea reported the gelding fit and well after his battling second to champion Winx in Saturday's G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
 
“He’s come through the run better than I expected and I am happy with where he is at," O'Shea said.
 
“James looked after him beautifully in the run, not punishing him late and letting him stride to the line.
 
“We paid up today for second acceptances and hope to have a good week with him in the lead up to the Cup.
 
"If at any stage we are not happy with him we will have no hesitation in pulling him out.
 
"But this stage everything is on track and we’re excited to have a strong chance in Australia’s great race," he added.

Hartnell will lead a strong Godolphin contingent in this year's Cup, with trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby also due to saddle runners.

Charlie Appleby’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish, last-start Geelong Cup winner Qewy and place getter Oceanographer, John O’Shea’s Tally and the Saeed bin Suroor-prepared duo Secret Number and Beautiful Romance round out the Godolphin septet after second acceptances were taken this morning.