The benefit of a summer spell and time acclimatising in Australia is expected to be seen in the autumn performances of import Prairie Star.

The former French horse kicks off his campaign in Saturday's Group Three Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield with the Australian Cup (2000m) on March 9 his Group One target.

Prairie Star, who races in the colours of Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell's OTI Racing, had just two starts during the Melbourne spring carnival as trainer Danny O'Brien put the import on an "Australian diet" to get some more weight on him.

He finished fourth in the Coongy Handicap (2000m) in his Australian debut before another fourth in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes.

But O'Brien thinks that was only a glimpse into the capabilities of the horse.

"He's done really well. He spent the summer down at Barwon Heads and has furnished out into a lovely stallion now," O'Brien said.

"I thought his two runs were very good (in the spring). And he's certainly come on a lot from that."

O'Brien will be guided by how the five-year-old performs at Caulfield on Saturday but is considering sending him to the Australian Cup without another run.

And if things go to plan for the Flemington trainer, that could be a big day for him on his home track.

O'Brien is also setting stablemates Shamexpress and Adamantium for the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on the same program.

The Anthony Freedman-trained Mawingo is another import who will resume at Caulfield on Saturday on his way to the Australian Cup.

Last year's Doomben Cup winner lines up in the Group One C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and will be out to show his lacklustre spring form of two unplaced efforts is something of the past.

"I think he's back where he was a year or so ago," Freedman said.

"That's the feeling I've got but raceday will tell.

"He just didn't come up last preparation and I probably was never really totally happy with him in hindsight."

AAP TURF