The six-year-old gelding will wear a cross-over noseband and tongue tie in an attempt to reignite his career after failing to win in five runs this campaign.

Maldivian disappointed Kavanagh with his last-start sixth to Littorio in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks ago but the trainer felt the horse could acquit himself in the Cup.

''I have seen a remarkable improvement with the gear changes and I'm more than happy with the way he's going into this race,'' Kavanagh said.

''He is every bit as good as last year and the gear changes have made the difference.''

Maldivian came closest to winning this campaign when he was beaten a long neck when second to Weekend Hussler in the Memsie Stakes (1400m).

He was also third in the Liston Stakes (1400m) and fourth in both the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Leading up to last year's Caulfield Cup Maldivian won the Yalumba Stakes and was a raging favourite after he drew barrier one.

He was considered by many as unbeatable from the inside draw but it turned out to be his downfall when he slashed his neck on camera equipment in the stall and had to be scratched at the barrier.

Yesterday, Kavanagh was dismissive at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw when Maldivian's drew gate 18.

''I don't worry about the barriers and I don't worry about the weather because I don't have any control over any of them,'' Kavanagh said.

He said last year's barrier mishap underlined the folly of trying to pick horses from barriers.

''Everyone said barrier one last year was pretty good but it turned out not to be,'' Kavanagh said.

''Who cares if a horse has won from barrier 18 or not? Impossible is only the name for something until somebody does it.''

Lord Reims (1987) is the only horse to win from barrier 18.

Meanwhile, jockey Jeff Lloyd believes Nom Du Jeu's wide barrier (20) in the Caulfield Cup is not as bad as it looks.

''For a horse like him who over races and can go a bit hard, it could be a good draw,'' Lloyd said.

''When he's stuck in the middle of things he's inclined to do things too quickly. He's going to get a long way back and we'll need a bit of luck but the main thing is that he switches off and if he does that he'll run a big race.'' AAP