It's called Mt Pisgah, which stands at the back of Dowling Forest Racecourse.

To be competitive in a race like the Melbourne Cup, in which I am hoping to be on Tuesday, you need an extra edge in condition.

My trainer Darren Weir has followed a proven method which many Ballarat trainers have used over the years.

Every afternoon, in addition to my early morning trackwork, Darren or a track rider walk me up "The Hill''.

I walk a kilometre to the start of the track, then stride up the steep incline which rises about one kilometre.

Up there a horse can relax in quiet surrounds before walking back down to the base and then striding to the top again.

Up the hill twice every afternoon, seven days a week.

It's tough, but it pays dividends.

By the time I get back to Forest Lodge, it has been a solid workout.

While I walk back to the stable, in human terms it is akin to "power walking''.

Then it's back to my yard for the night until the cycle starts all over the next day.

With only six days to go before possibly my biggest race, I am right at the peak of my fitness.

Now the focus is to keep me at that level.

As for any athlete, diet is as important an element as exercise to achieving maximise fitness, so tomorrow I will cover my daily food intake.

By PETER WILKIE, a stablehand for Leica Ding's trainer Darren Weir, with DAVID BREHAUT.

LEICA Ding yesterday moved to 25 in the Melbourne Cup elimination order after Lee Freedman withdrew Speed Gifted from the $5.5m event. The cup is restricted to 24 starters, with the field to be declared on Saturday night.