Anthony Cummings doesn’t have a Melbourne Cup runner but the first Tuesday in November still shapes as a spring carnival turning point.

The trainer’s chances of winning a Group One race during Cup week at Flemington rest on the performances of two runners on Cup day, Spy Decoder in the Lavazza Short Black (1400m) and Aomen in the MSS Security Sprint (1200m).

Cummings’ son and stable foreman Edward said both remained in contention for the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

“If either of them wins they will probably back up in the Emirates,” Edward Cummings said.

“Aomen is probably a better chance of getting a run.”

Spy Decoder was scratched from the Yellowglen Stakes on Victoria Derby day due to a wide barrier and has gate four on Tuesday with James McDonald to ride.

A feature race win during Melbourne Cup week would provide a tonic for the Cummings stable which has had a slower-than-hoped-for start to the season after a virus swept through their Randwick team early in the spring.

It forced them to spell some of their best horses, including Epsom Handicap contender As Needed, while the campaigns of several others were interrupted.

Best Case was one of those affected by the illness but the horse showed he was back on track with a Rosehill victory on Saturday.

While a belated trip to Melbourne hasn’t been ruled out, Edward Cummings said they were leaning towards taking a more conservative path in the short-term via the Goulburn Cup and culminating in the Villiers Stakes.

“Then in the autumn we might be able to have a crack at something like the Doncaster,” he said.