SA's Caulfield Contenders: The Map takes on a Group 3

Star South Australian stayer The Map takes another significant step towards the Melbourne Cup in the $200,000 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained mare produced a brilliant return to racing in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes at Morphettville on the Parks last month and will be ridden by Craig Newitt with Jamie Kah committed to $4 favourite Saint George for the Ciaron Maher stable.

Kah is yet to decide just what horse she’ll ride in the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday in November, having also qualified Point King for the Cup via last weekend’s Archer Stakes at Flemington.

“It’s tricky this time of year knowing what horse I’ll be on in the Melbourne Cup with so much to play out before then,’’ Kah said.

“It’s a long way away from making a decision, in the end I’m going to ride the best horse I think can win the race.

“She’s such a genuine stayer, she’s a tough tough horse and she’s fast which helps,’’ she said.

Clarken said he couldn’t fault the mare following an encouraging first-up run and will be interested in getting some more feedback from multiple Group 1 winning rider Newitt.

“We just want to see her to begin clean,’’ Clarken said.

“She should be able to get a nice position, her first-up run was really sharp and her work has continued to be in that vein.

“What I see of her, the older she’s getting, the better she’s getting and I’ll be interested to hear what Craig has to say,’’ he said.

The Map will be joined in Melbourne by the Andrew Gluyas-trained Arugamama who finished down the track behind her stablemate Air Assault in last week’s Listed Balaklava Cup.

Craig Williams has been booked to ride the five-year-old who looks suited getting out to 2000m for the first time this campaign.

Richard and Chantelle Jolly have opted to stay in Adelaide with Aviatress who has drawn a perfect gate on the Parks at Morphettville.

Chris Bieg has also decided to stay home with promising three-year-old Big Brute who hasn’t raced since running second behind Detroit City at Flemington in August and lines up in the opening race at Morphettville.