Maintaining the unbeaten record of his exciting galloper Callanish will be of secondary importance for trainer Mick Price to giving the horse its best chance of winning his major autumn target, the Australian Cup.

Callanish came through a significant test in a trial at Werribee on Monday that Price believes will have him ready to run well first up in Saturday's Group One C F Orr Stakes (1400m).

But adding the race to his eight-from-eight record is not the priority.

"I'm not sure I haven't been caught a bit short with him," Price said.

"Another week might have been good, but his trial today will have brought him on and he'll run in the Orr on Saturday

"If he doesn't win it it doesn't matter, I'm not worried about him getting beaten and keeping his record."

Callanish created a big impression in his latest preparation which took him from a benchmark 72 win at Sandown in mid-winter to a Listed victory in the spring.

His autumn target is the Group One Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 9 with the Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on Feb 23 as his other lead-up.

But Price has a plan "B" if, for any reason, Callanish needs to change course.

"I've always believed he would be a 2000 metre horse, but if I'm a bit out with his preparation he's entered for the Doncaster which isn't a bad alternative," he said.

Callanish showed all his customary tenacity to win Monday's 1000m trial, leading from the gates and holding off handy performer Lone Rock.

With the expectation that star colt All Too Hard will run in the Orr, it is probably just as well Price isn't bothered about making it nine-nine with Callanish.

The pair are among 11 nominations for Melbourne's first Group One race of the year, along with New Zealander King Mufhasa who has recently had a training switch from Stephen McKee to Bruce Wallace and German import Mawingo whose recent trial form suggests an improvement from his disappointing spring.

Michael Rodd will ride King Mufhasa if he races in Melbourne with the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year expected to also be nominated on Tuesday for the Waikato Sprint at Te Rapa, a Group One race he has won twice and been placed in twice.