Only 16 horses remain in contention for a Cox Plate start after third declarations were taken on Tuesday.
Of those still in the hunt for the prestigious weight-for-age race, there are four three-year-olds.
They are Autumn Boy, Nepotism, Rivellino and Wodeton, but a special late-entry clause for the age remains open until October 20.
Unbeaten Autumn Glow and 2023 runner Fangirl were among 14 horses to drop out.
Late entries can be lodged for a $100,000 fee while older horses cn be added for a $200,000 payment.
The 2024 winner Via Sistina holds favouritism for the $5 million race on October 25 but she is being pressed at the top of the market by Sir Delius.
Sir Delius continued on his winning way in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, relegating Via Sistina into third placing.
