Champion mare Makybe Diva will run in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup on one condition.

Owner Tony Santic declared he would abandon all plans for a record third Cup attempt if the Flemington track is too firm.

Santic at first appeared to have made a categorical decision on a start.

"We're going to be there," he said.

"We made up our mind this morning.

"All the people want to see her run, she'll run for the people."

But he then added the proviso.

"If it's a hard track, she won't run," he said.

Santic said his definition of a hard track would be one that was rated worse than "good-to-dead".

The Makybe Diva situation was repeated with another of the Cup's top fancies.

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