Time is running out for leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir to get his star mare Tigress Joy to the start at Caulfield on Saturday.

The five-year-old was set to run at last Saturday's meeting at the track but a foot abscess was discovered at the last moment.

"We found out about it on race morning and had to scratch her but she might run on Saturday if it bursts out again in the next day or two," Weir said.

Weir said Tigress Joy was clearly the best of his three runners and he will monitor her closely in a bid to have the mare fit for the 1200-metre handicap.

"We'll have a look at her on Friday and make a decision then."

Tigress Joy has placed at each of her four starts following a spell and won at Moonee Valley two starts back.

"She's been going really well. She is one of our better horses and if we can get her to the start she will run well," Weir said.

Of his other two starters, gelding King Buddy makes a step up in class after good country form in the 1200 metres handicap while the colt Glockenspiel prepares for the 1000 metres Two-Years-Old Plate.

Only Glockenspiel and the Kevin Newby-trained gelding Change Of Honour have previous race experience.

Glockenspiel finished seventh in the $200,000 Magic Millions feature held in the clockwise direction at Ballarat on November 25 after missing the start.

Weir said the one race was unlikely to give his horse any significant advantage.

"It does give us a little bit of an edge but probably not a lot. They are all pretty well-educated these days," he said.

King Buddy steps up from the country where has had excellent form with three wins this current preparation.

"He's been racing really well but this is a bit of a step up for him," Weir said.

"But that's where he's at now.

"He's got his rating up a little bit now. It's a 0-89 rating and that's sort of his class where he'll get in reasonable on the weights and he'll be a chance," he said.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Catapulted heads a list of 16 nominations for the Listed $120,000 Doveton Stakes (1000m).

Catapulted's stablemate Undeniably is also among the entries along with Kulgrinda, Halle Rocks and Winter King.