Talented sprinter Mental will get the chance to confirm he is a Group One performer when he contests the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Sheikh Mohammed's Darley team is chasing its second straight win in the race following Sepoy's victory in the 1200m feature last year.

Mental is beginning his final Australian campaign after which he will join six other Darley horses to be tested overseas under Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin banner.

"He's a very talented sprinter and he's dynamite fresh," Darley's Melbourne stable foreman Paul Snowden said.

"We want to have him pretty spot-on first-up.

"There's not a lot of options for sprinters. There's this race and maybe the Patinack Farm Classic if he runs well, so you've got to be right on your mark and hopefully get the runs on the board early."

Mental will be making his first appearance at Group One level having missed a start in the Stradbroke Handicap at the end of his previous campaign.

The then three-year-old was third emergency for the Stradbroke but didn't gain a run, instead winning a Listed race on the same day.

"I just want to see him break through and hopefully get that Group One win," Snowden said.

"He's got a very good record and doesn't have to improve much to compete against that level."

Stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy partnered the son of Lonhro in a workout at Moonee Valley last week and was confident the four-year-old would handle the circuit.

"It's a nice line-up but we believe he's a horse that will handle Moonee Valley," McEvoy said.

"He'll probably be midfield somewhere in the run and have to come home in some pretty quick fractions. But it looks like there could be some nice tempo in the race."

Star Queensland sprinter Buffering is the dominant favourite to break through for his first Group One success.

"Buffering is the benchmark for everything at the moment," Snowden said.

"His two wins this time in have been great. We just need a bit of luck on the night."