The most recognisable person in Australian racing could get a belated birthday present when in-form stayer Precedence runs in the Group Two Zipping Classic.

Legendary trainer Bart Cummings turns 86 on Thursday.

Two days later Cummings, who now trains in partnership with his grandson James, will start Precedence in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield.

The gelding will be out to continue his winning run this spring having taken out the Moonee Valley Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at his past two starts.

Precedence missed out on giving the man known as `the Cups King' a runner in last week's Melbourne Cup when he was left stranded one place outside the field of 24 in the Cup ballot order.

Instead the eight-year-old went around in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) four days after the Cup and scored a consolation win.

Precedence has been installed equal favourite for Saturday's Zipping Classic (2400m), alongside Sertorius who he narrowly defeated in the Queen Elizabeth.

The 60-year training career of Cummings was recently celebrated at the Australian Horse of the Year awards night in Melbourne.

Cummings, who made a rare public appearance at the event, presented the inaugural Bart Cummings Champion Trainer award to Chris Waller who finished last season as the leading trainer of Group One winners in Australia.

Cummings has won 266 Group One races during his career to date, including 12 Melbourne Cups.