With a horse high in confidence and the recent endorsement of a premier jockey, Darley believes the time is right to give Knoydart a shot at a Group One race.

The Peter Snowden-trained Knoydart, unbeaten in three starts since he was gelded, will take aim in Saturday's Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield against a capacity field of 18 runners.

Knoydart has won Listed races at his past two starts, including an eye-catching Hareeba Stakes performance at Mornington last Wednesday when he unleashed a big sprint from midfield to score by 3-1/4 lengths.

It prompted winning jockey Nash Rawiller to declare the four-year-old up to winning a high-pressure Group One race.

Rawiller will not be aboard on Saturday however, with James McDonald taking the ride at 53kg.

Darley's Melbourne foreman Paul Snowden said the timing was right for Knoydart to be given a chance in a big sprint.

"He is just in a good spot. His confidence is massive," Snowden said.

"He's three from three this time in and his win at Mornington was massive, to overcome bias on the day and to come from that far back.

"I know they went hard but he was the only one that was getting home."

Snowden says Knoydart, who will jump from barrier five, has been kept happy since his Mornington win.

Stablemate Kuroshio will also contest the Oakleigh Plate but has drawn poorly in barrier 15.

Knoydart was on the second line of TAB betting at $7.50 on Wednesday behind Lankan Rupee ($2.70) who has barrier eight.

Both trainer Mick Price and jockey Craig Newitt can't fault Lankan Rupee, a dominant first-up winner of the Rubiton Stakes.

Trainer Jason Warren declared barrier 10 a perfect gate for Bel Sprinter who has a habit of being slow away.

However, last year's Galaxy winner has history against him on Saturday.

No horse has carried 58kg or more to win the Oakleigh Plate since Dual Choice in 1972 which carried the equivalent of 59.5kg.

Warren learned of that statistic on Wednesday and admitted it made Bel Sprinter's task a difficult one.

But he and jockey Michael Rodd insist the horse is in the right condition to run a big race.

"I worked him yesterday morning and he absolutely flew," Rodd said.

"He's really well and is probably the best I have ever felt him."