Spechenka is on the edge of Caulfield Cup acceptances

A tense wait lies ahead for trainer Ben Ahrens with Queensland horse Spechenka sitting right on the cusp for the 2011 Caulfield Cup.

Spechenka is in equal 17th spot after acceptances for the race, locked together with two other runners.

That means one of them will drop out to first emergency with the other two to be guaranteed a spot.

The horses he’s equal with are Green Moon and Macedonian.

Given Green Moon was an impressive last start winner in the Newcastle Cup you’d  expect he’s earned his spot so it could be a real dogfight between the remaining two.

We’ll know later this afternoon which horse got it but there’s no doubt Ahrens will be pushing his case.

Earlier today he spoke about his decision to run the horse saying his work has been top rate.

“We’ve decided to accept with the horse, we just wanted to make sure his work this morning was good enough,” he said.

Spechenka won the Caloundra Cup earlier in the year but his last two starts in the Newcastle Cup and Metropolitan have been somewhat disappointing.

He was due to run in the Herbert Power Stakes last week but he was pulled out after stepping on a  stone.

“He’s been in Melbourne just over a week, we did nominate him for the Herbert Power but he had a bit of a stone bruise,” Ahrens said.

He admits he had all but written off the Caulfield Cup but a string of withdrawals had once again opened the door.

“We were looking more towards the Geelong Cup initially, we didn’t think we’d make the Caulfield Cup field,” he said.

Michael Walker will pick up the ride should he sneak into that final position on Saturday where Spechenka will have his first ever Melbourne start.

“For a horse that hasn’t done a great deal of work the Melbourne way we were a little bit concerned but the way he’s taken to going that way we’re very happy,” he said.