Her trainer Darren Weir said Leica Ding would not go down that path again next year, with her 14th in yesterday's $5.5 million Melbourne Cup showing she was not quite up to taking on the country's best stayers over 3200 metres.

Weir said the five-year-old needed to build up physically before taking on the "big boys" again.

She will get an opportunity to do that immediately - going straight to the spelling paddock.

Weir is not sure when Leica Ding will return, but he is unlikely to rush her, given that had gone from a maiden win at Casterton to the Melbourne Cup in her first two racing preparations.

Despite missing out on what Weir hoped would at least be a top-10 finish, he was far from dejected.

Leica Ding has spearheaded a marvellous spring for Weir - her win in the group three Geelong Cup was one of four listed/group wins for the stable.

He said Leica Ding had done a great job to earn a Melbourne Cup run.

With the scratching of the David Hayes-trained Changingoftheguard early yesterday, Leica Ding moved into barrier one.

This made no difference to her race plan, with Craig Williams dropping her out to have just five behind her at the finishing post the first time.

Weir said this was to plan, and mid-race he felt comfortable.

However, a slow pace was to make it impossible for those back in the pack to make up ground.

Jockey Craig Williams said this meant when the pace went on, Leica Ding was not able to accelerate and lost valuable ground to her rivals.

Leica Ding was also bumped around when trying to find some room to make a run.

Williams described the effort as "gutsy".

"She didn't have any luck, but she fought it out."

Strapper Angela Taylor-Moy said Leica Ding had pulled up a "treat".

After the mare had been washed down, she enjoyed a pick of grass in the stable parade ring - looking little like a horse that had just run Australia's toughest race.

Later, Taylor-Moy had cause to celebrate. Chocolate Ruby ($3.50), which she races and trained, bolted in by four lengths in a 0-62 handicap, 1400m, at Mildura.