A Sydney autumn carnival campaign is off the table for tough staying mare Poste Restante but she will be given a shot at winter stakes targets closer to home.

Poste Restante is a $21 chance for Saturday's Mount Franklin Sparkling Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm which she will tackle at her second run from a spell.

However, trainer Desleigh Forster has warned punters not to take the mare lightly, even though the distance for Saturday's race is short of her best.

Premiership pacesetter Michael Cahill, who has ridden Poste Restante to four of her seven wins, will again be aboard.

"Poste Restante has drawn the outside alley but it is an even start and she will get back anyway," Forster said.

"We will get through Saturday and then look longer-term but I am expecting her to race well."

Noted frontrunners Listen Son and Renewed Vitality are expected to set a solid pace in Saturday's race which should suit backmarker Pose Restante.

The mare has campaigned in Sydney several times and hasn't been disgraced against some smart horses.

Her latest Sydney run was in Listed company at Randwick on New Year's Day when she ran the best final sectional of the race to finish fourth to Permit.

Poste Restante was spelled after that run and resumed with an eighth to Steel Zip over 1350m at Doomben two weeks ago.

"We were going to Sydney with her after Saturday's run but to be honest, I think it is going to be too tough," Forster said.

"I think we will stay home and space her runs leading into the winter so we can target some of the staying races during our carnival."

The Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) is a possible target but Forster is concerned the Gold Coast track may not suit Poste Restante's racing pattern.

"After the way the race patterns worked out there last Saturday I am not certain she would be suited," she said.

"There are plenty of other staying options during the winter."

Listen Son is the early favourite for the Mount Franklin Sparkling Handicap and trainer Tony Gollan expects him to race well after a solid first-up second to Steel Zip.