New Zealand trainer Richard Collett expects So Wotif to show the benefit of his first Australian start when the three-year-old runs in Saturday's Listed Creswick Stakes.

So Wotif finished third in his Melbourne debut at Caulfield and Collett believes the extra time spent in Australia and a step up to 1200m will suit him even more at Flemington.

"He only flew in about six days prior to his race at Caulfield and it took him a few days to settle in at Flemington," Collett said.

"I've been able to do a bit more work with him going into this race and I'm quite happy with the horse.

"He galloped very well this morning."

So Wotif, a Group Three winner in New Zealand, was beaten almost five lengths behind lightly raced filly She Can Skate last start.

She Can Skate is also nominated for the Creswick Stakes.

Collett felt So Wotif wasn't able to get a breather outside the speed dropping back to 1100m and did well to fight on for third.

"I was quite proud of the horse," he said.

All four of So Wotif's wins have come over 1200m.

So Wotif and stablemate Shandream, who'll also run at Flemington, are the first horses Collett has campaigned in Australia since Cog Hill raced in Brisbane and Melbourne in 2006.

The trainer believes the trip will also help "make a bit of a man of the horse", with plans to target So Wotif at the feature New Zealand sprints next summer.

Damien Lane retains the ride on So Wotif in the main event on the 10-race Flemington program.

Five-year-old Shandream runs in a 1200m handicap and Collett said the mare had trained on well since her sixth in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington on May 18.