In 2011, the club introduced a controversial rule that stipulated the winner of the Mornington Cup would be granted a ballot-free position in the Caulfield Cup.

In four years since, two Mornington Cup winners have dropped out while smart hurdler Tuscan Fire ran in Australia's second-most important handicap and finished well down the track in 12th spot.

This year, much-loved Tasmanian stayer Banca Mo was successful in the Mornington Cup with trainer Scott Brunton determined to make the Caulfield Cup the eight-year-old's swansong.

However six weeks ago, Banca Mo collapsed and died of a heart attack in a paddock at Cranbourne.

"He just went down and never got up," said Brunton. "I still get a bit teary about it.

"He was a wonderful old horse who was rising nine and we would have made the Caulfield Cup his last day at the races."

Sadly for Brunton, but fortunately for the rule makers at Melbourne Racing Club, Banca Mo was not part of the final acceptances on Tuesday morning.

Had Banca Mo remained with us he would have prevented Grand Marshal, an imported stayer from Chris Waller's stable, from gaining a start in the  cup.

The outcry would have been understandably vocal, especially for the connections who brought the five-year-old from Europe specifically to contest the Melbourne and Caulfield cup double.

Racing puritans would have been outraged that Banca Mo had ousted Grand Marshal, a winner of the Sydney Cup, a race that boasts a history of champion winners including Makybe Diva and Kingston Town.

Brunton was philosophical and didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard that if Banco Mo had made it to  cup day he would have kept Grand Marshal out of the race, a horse he has a lot of time for.

"Actually he's such a good damn horse, I've already backed him to win the Melbourne Cup and I reckon he'll run a hell of a race on Saturday as well," Brunton said.