Trainer Stephen Brown thinks he has a horse that's going places in lightly raced three-year-old gelding Kievann.

A son of Group One winner Niello, Kievann will take on his biggest challenge so far on Saturday in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Carat (1200m) at Caulfield.

Kievann was shifted from trainer Troy Portelli in November and since has been placed once and won his last start at Kyneton over 1200m.

He was scratched at Flemington on Wednesday in favour of the shorter distance on offer at Caulfield.

"He hasn't had a metropolitan win yet but he's not far off," said Brown.

He said there was a formline in Kievann's third place at Sale last month because the winner Girl In Flight went on to win at Caulfield and the runner-up By The Grace finished third at Caulfield.

"It was a big win at Kyneton with 60kg plus on his back - and he missed the kick," said Brown.

"We're expecting good things at Caulfield."

He would be even more confident if Darren Weir's Trust In a Gust wasn't there.

"Take him out of the equation and I think we can win," said Brown.

Brown thinks the 1200m trip is the most suitable for Kievann and stretching to 1400m "if he's ridden right".

Brown, who moved to Melbourne 12 months ago, has 30 horses in his Flemington stable and another 20 in Darwin.