To run or not to run.

That's the "dilemma" on the hands of Dolphin Jo's connections after he scored a strong win in the Group Two Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield today.

The win guaranteed the six-year-old gelding a place in the field for Caulfield's famous mile and a half staying contest.

But now the owners of Dolphin Jo and trainer Terry O'Sullivan have to decide whether they will indeed run in the Caulfield Cup.

The main aim this preparation for the son of Dolphin Street has always been, and still remains, the Melbourne Cup.

"This (win) is a lovely bonus," O'Sullivan said. "We're rapt in that."

And just will Dolphin Jo be backing up to race for this third straight Saturday in the Caulfield Cup in seven days time.

"I'll have to think about that," O'Sullivan said.

"I was thinking more of the Moonee Valley Cup than the Caulfield Cup - but we'll give it a bit of thought and see where we go."

"It's a lot of money and if the horse pulls up good (he's a chance). He's a tough little bugger."

O'Sullivan said Dolphin Jo was a consistent performer who always ran well when he was at his more suitable distances.

"He never finishes too far away. Even when he runs sixth or seventh, he's only ever beaten three lengths."

"He needs to definitely get to 2400 until he starts to show it. Up to 2000 metres they are just too sharp for him."

There was one stage in the race when O'Sullivan was a little concerned that his charge was not going to be able to get out in clear running to make his charge.

"I thought he was in a bit of trouble on the corner and he wasn't going to get out," he added. "But that's his go - in a nice fast run race he just keeps coming."

"I was just hoping that Clare was going to be able to get him away from the fence. I think she tried to get off at the half mile (800m) but there was just no hope of getting off the rail at that stage."

O'Sullivan said his confidence was boosted before the race when he learned the track had some definitely give and was a genuine "dead".

"I spoke to John Sadler earlier and he told me there was genuine give in the ground. I was very happy about that."

Betstar reacted to the length victory by halving his Caulfield Cup price from $101 to $51. They also sliced his Melbourne Cup quote from $67 to $41.

Dolphin Jo was partnered to victory today by Adelaide Cup winning jockey Clare Lindop.

"I thought she rode him well in the (Melbourne) Cup last year and I thought she rode him particularly well last week. The lack of pace mid race didn't help us."

"She's ridden the horse three times and ridden him really well three times - I'm very happy with Clare."

Dolphin Jo, by Miss Potential, Road to Success and Spinning Hill's sire Dolphin Street, is one of two stakes performers from the placed Belligerent mare High Rent.

High Rent's other top performer was the ten time winner and Bendigo Cup (LR) runner-up Fearless Sophie - a winner of almost a quarter of a million dollars.

With his earnings today, Dolphin Jo boosted his prizemoney tally to a very healthy $657,175. What that could be by the end of the spring - well that's anyone's guess.

PICS - Quentin Lang.