Stephen Brown has one of the strangest two-state training operations in Australia.

While it is common for stables to have bases in different states, Brown has his main centre in Melbourne as well as a team in Darwin where he is a seven-time premiership winner.

As the Darwin Cup carnival looms, Brown on Thursday sent some of his Melbourne team to the Top End.

African Pulse, Post D'France, Kievann will form the backbone of Brown's travelling team with Bishops Castle a chance of gaining a late call-up.

A two-time winner during last year's Darwin carnival, Bishops Castle will be having his first run since January when he contests the F45 Training Port Melbourne Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Bishops Castle was not a part of the travelling party to Darwin with Melbourne the preferred option at the moment.

"Maybe after Saturday we might wish we did send him with the others," Brown said.

"It's probably not too late to send him but he can have a couple of starts here beforehand."

Despite the steadier of 62kg, which will be offset with the 3kg claim for Dylan Dunn, Brown said Saturday's race was a suitable first-up assignment for the son of O'Reilly.

He said the gelding was forward enough to run well following a recent Flemington jump-out.

Stablemate Hard Lil will join Bishops Castle at Moonee Valley, lining up in the William Hill Handicap (1600m) after being scratched from Sale on Thursday.

Brown said he couldn't see a lot of difference in the class between the two races and is keen to step the daughter of Hard Spun up to 1600m.

Hard Lil was a last-start Maiden winner over 1400m at Echuca on May 14.