Star South Australian mare The Map will kick off her Melbourne Cup campaign in Saturday’s $120,000 Sportsbet Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.
The Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained galloper hasn’t raced since she booked her ticket into the race that stops the nation by winning the $500,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington in May.
The Map will be joined in the feature by See You In Heaven, who also has her sights on some Melbourne Spring Carnival riches following her impressive first-up win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville, while there is some high quality Victorian horses headed for Adelaide.
Mitch Freedman has Group 1 winner Attrition set to resume in the 1400m race.
The Toorak Handicap winner from last year hasn’t raced since running down the track behind Here To Shock in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield in April.
Star international jockey Lyle Hewitson will make his Adelaide riding debut on the weekend teaming with the Lindsay Park-trained Nicolini Vito.
Unusual Culture could make his debut for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable while the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable have nominated He's Our Bonneval.
Exciting local four-year-old Air Assault will also continue his spring campaign following an encouraging return when placed behind See You In Heaven in the Spring Stakes.
