An Australian Cup start for Contributer is doubtful as the Godolphin import prepares to begin a new campaign as one of the favourites in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Well entrenched near the top of Australian Cup betting, Contributer has figured in a programming switch that is likely to mean the five-year-old races exclusively in Sydney during the autumn carnival.

Godolphin racing manager Jason Walsh said trainer John O'Shea was taking a long-term approach with the horse which came out of quarantine to make a winning Australian debut at Caulfield in October.

Contributer subsequently felt the hard ground when unplaced in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington and O'Shea is wary of striking a similar surface in the Australian Cup.

"We were settled on going to the Australian Cup a couple of months ago but John would need to see some ease in the ground to do that now," Walsh said.

"That's not to say we have closed the idea of going to the Australian Cup because if the rain did arrive ... we'd love to run him there.

"But we are bit mindful the horse has been bought with a view to figure during some of the spring features."

Contributer is on the second line of Australian Cup betting behind Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.

It's the same market position he occupies in the Apollo Stakes as a $5.50 chance behind Lucia Valentina ($5), the Kris Lees-trained mare which has been heavily backed in the past 24 hours.

Contributer will be racing at a distance less than 1600m for the second time in an 11-start career that has delivered five wins.

But a recent Randwick barrier trial win suggests he has quickly adapted to a racing campaign tailored to Australian conditions.

Randwick received 6mm of overnight rain to put the track just into the soft range during a Friday morning track inspection.

If the track has the same amount of give in it on Saturday, both Contributer and Lucia Valentina will have footing that will be to their liking.

Lucia Valentina is unproven at weight-for-age but she will be trying to protect a strong fresh record as she steps out for the first time since finishing worse than midfield in the Melbourne Cup.

"You always worry about a Melbourne Cup hangover," Lees said.

"She hasn't shown any signs of that but I suppose we don't really know until race day."