Champion jockey Damien Oliver has made the decision to stick with his Caulfield Cup mount Mustajeer in Tuesday week's $8 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

Trainer Kris Kris Lees confirmed that the Melbourne ace has given a commitment to ride the former Irish stayer in a bid to win the famous race for the fourth time.

Oliver delayed his decision until after he rode Steel Prince in the Geelong Cup (2400m).

Steel Prince qualified for the Melbourne Cup by winning the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May but could finish only seventh in the Geelong Cup won by Prince Of Arran.

Mustajeer qualified when he won the rich Ebor Handicap at York in August before joining the Lees stable in Australia. He is currently 15th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry.

Lees said Mustajeer has come through his solid sixth to Japanese stayer Mer De Glace in last Saturday's Caulfield Cup (2400m) without any problems and will go into the Melbourne Cup without another run.

Lees also said he was still hoping to start Caulfield Cup failure Big Duke in the Melbourne Cup.

Big Duke failed to finish in the Caulfield Cup and pulled up with cardiac arrythmia.

However Lees said he has made a good recovery and is likely to run next in the Lexus Hotham Handicap (2500m) at Flemington next Saturday in a bid to clinch a Melbourne Cup berth.

Big Duke is currently 31st in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup but can gain automatic entry by winning the Lexus.

Lees will not persevere with a Melbourne Cup program for Red Cardinal as he remains unqualified despite finishing fourth in the Geelong Cup.

"His next run will be in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the end of the Flemington carnival on November 9," Lees said.

"Red Cardinal races best with his runs spaced and rain would definitely enhance his chances."