Darley stalwart Pinwheel is raced by one of the world's richest racehorse owners but he promises to be a sentimental favourite for the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

At least in the eyes of his trainer Peter Snowden.

Snowden has trained far better horses for his boss Sheikh Mohammed but few have been as willing to deliver on the racetrack than Pinwheel.

On a day when the next generation of Darley thoroughbred stars can confirm their arrival via the Blue Diamond and an Oakleigh Plate win would be good for business, Snowden is hoping Pinwheel can provide a romantic result in the Futurity.

Pinwheel returns to Group One competition for the first time in more than 12 months after Snowden also had the eight-year-old entered for the Group Two Apollo Stakes in Sydney.

"I thought both fields were fairly even and there's chances in both races but he fits in in both races," Snowden said.

"The Futurity is a Group One and he's not getting any younger but it might be his best chance to win one."

Pinwheel was introduced to the racetrack almost six years ago and he was beaten at Canterbury.

His conqueror was Northern Meteor, a subsequent Group One winner and champion first season sire before his premature death last year.

As much as it's an example of how suddenly the racing landscape can change, it's also a testament to Pinwheel's longevity and blue-collar service to a racing stable that has up to 250 horses in work in Sydney and Melbourne.

Pinwheel has won at seven racetracks during his career with Caulfield being one of them and that experience also helped Snowden lean towards the Futurity.

"He maps well to me from a good draw so it's worth a shot at the stumps," he said.