Three-year-old Lord Of The Sky is a dominant favourite for the Group Three Sir John Monash Stakes but trainer Robbie Laing admits the colt will need to be at his best to make a winning introduction to weight-for-age racing.
Laing is keen to give Lord Of The Sky his chance at early season weight-for-age features such as the Peter Lawrence and Memsie Stakes next month, but first the colt needs to pass another test in Saturday's 1100m sprint.
"He's going super. He loves Caulfield and he's very fit," Laing said.
"The only thing is it's the first time he has had to carry weight.
"I've always got him into the open sprints on the minimum and then claimed on him as well.
"He would want to be on song to win with 58 (kilograms)."
Lord Of The Sky, winner of four of his seven starts, was installed the $2.10 favourite with TAB fixed odds on Wednesday with a field of nine to contest the race.
Laing also has new stable addition Mr Make Believe resuming in the Monash and the former Peter Moody-trained galloper has had a throat operation since he last raced.
The Mike Moroney-trained African Pulse, who has been gelded since his last start, has won five of his six first-up runs and shares the second line of betting at $6 with Le Bonsir.
Laing said Lord Of The Sky had a solid gallop at Sandown last Friday to ready him for his first start for seven weeks.
Lord Of The Sky's wins have all been with apprentices on board but senior rider Dwayne Dunn takes over on Saturday for his first ride on the colt.
"It looks a good race for him," Dunn said.
"By all reports he is going as good as he can go."
Laing said Mr Make Believe, winner of 10 of his 26 starts, joined his team about 10 weeks ago.
"He's trained along pretty good," Laing said.
"Lord Of The Sky has got good recent form and the other horse hasn't raced for 11 months. Whatever he does he'll improve on."