Trainer Mick Kent has been inundated with phone calls inquiring about the possible ride on Unusual Suspect in Tuesday’s $6m Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Jockey Nash Rawiller is booked to ride the US import but may have to forfeit after losing an appeal for an eight meeting suspension today,

Rawiller incurred a careless riding suspension aboard Star Bender in a Bendigo Maiden on Wednesday and had his appeal knocked back by the Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

Rawiller’s misfortune may benefit his brother Brad who along with leading Victorian jockey Luke Nolen are front runners for the ride.

“I have had a lot of phone calls for the ride, but I will just wait and see what happens,” Kent said.

“I will see how the Cup picture shapes at Flemington tomorrow and probably decide on a jockey after that if Nash can’t ride.”

Kent has given Unusual Suspect,a $21 Cup prospect, the  thumps up after his cracking run in the 2011 Caulfield Cup.

After being pushed back to near the tail of the field, Unusual Suspect ran on strongly to gain sixth beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Kent pointed to Unusual Suspect’s close second in the 2010 Capistrano Invitation over 2800m at Santa Anita in California as a good pointer that his galloper can run out the 3200m of the Cup.

On that occasion Unusual Suspect settled second last and finished strongly when beaten by Bourbon Boy in the Group 2 race.