The conditions of the Zipping Classic are against Midsummer Sun but trainer on-the-rise Sam Kavanagh is banking on the import being the fresh horse on the scene.

Midsummer Sun heads into the Group Two weight-for-age Zipping Classic on Saturday third-up after a Melbourne Cup day second to the promising Salon Soldier over 1800m.

Sydney-based Kavanagh decided on the 2400m race instead of the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) for Midsummer Sun as he was convinced the horse was looking for further.

"We're badly handicapped at weight-for-age and as much as it doesn't look the best placement because in a handicap we'd be meeting these horses a lot better, we're the horse on the way up," Kavanagh said.

"Precedence and Sertorius have been very good this spring and they are going to be very hard to beat but I feel we're the fresh horse on the scene.

"And if we're going to measure up to a carnival next year which is what we've always been aiming at, he's going to have to come out and do something tomorrow."

Formerly based in Adelaide, Kavanagh moved to Sydney at the start of the season and celebrated his first Randwick winner last Saturday.

He hopes Midsummer Sun, a European import who has claimed two of his five wins under Kavanagh, can bring up another milestone this weekend.

Kavanagh won three Listed races with Bagman last year but is chasing his first Group winner with Midsummer Sun.