It's A Dundeel is thriving in familiar Australian surrounds but caretaker trainer Bjorn Baker concedes it's hard to imagine a more difficult return to racing for the top colt on Saturday.
It's A Dundeel is confirmed to take his place in a star-studded $200,000 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.
And in most instances It's A Dundeel would be a headline act in the race but Baker, who is overseeing the three-year-old's Sydney campaign on behalf of his father Murray, says a supporting role might be more appropriate in the Group Two.
His caution over the first-up prospects of last year's Spring Champion Stakes winner is understandable given the presence Tulloch Lodge stablemates Pierro and Proisir.
Pierro is one of racing's superstar and Proisir could easily join him as an elite racehorse before the end of the autumn.
"He looks well and he's in good order but it's a massive ask on Saturday ... there's no doubt about that," Baker told AAP.
It's A Dundeel arrived at Baker's Warwick Farm stable for the spring when the young trainer was steadily making his way.
He returns to a barn that his making a habit of winning city races and there are already signs It's A Dundeel can help lift Baker's profile even further heading into the autumn.
"His trial was good, very good," Baker said.
"He ran on well for third without really being asked for an effort."
The unplaced favourite in last year's Victoria Derby, It's A Dundeel is being sent on a traditional path towards the Australian Derby - with a possible detour late in his campaign.
"The Derby is the race he is being set for, that's the plan," Baker said.
"But there's a chance he could race in the (weight-for-age) BMW but we'll see what happens."
Baker confirmed James McDonald for the Hobartville mount as well as the rest of the autumn.
McDonald has ridden It's A Dundeel in all of his seven starts for five wins, four of which came in Sydney on his way to claiming the Group One Spring Champion Stakes.