Trainer Peter Gelagotis is hoping Illustrious Lad has taken the next step as the gelding embarks on his latest campaign.

Illustrious Lad contests the Magic Millions Three and Four-Year-Old Classic at Ballarat on Saturday, his first run as a four-year-old.

At his last campaign Illustrious Lad graduated from winning a benchmark 64 race at Cranbourne to success in the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington.

And Gelagotis said the son of I Am Invincible now needs to improve on that if he's to be competitive against open-class horses.

"He's not a three-year-old anymore," Gelagotis said.

"Some horses take the next step and some don't and he needs to, so it will be an interesting learning curve on Saturday.

"It's a tough field and the horse that takes that next step will win the race on Saturday."

Gelagotis has picked out a 1200m handicap at Flemington on December 12 for Illustrious Lad's next outing that could then lead to a start in the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day.

He said Illustrious Lad has shown a liking for the straight track at Flemington.

The trainer said Illustrious Lad had spelled well and had a faultless campaign for his return run.

As part of his preparation, Illustrious Lad ran second to Nordic Empire, also in the 16-strong field on Saturday, in a Cranbourne trial on November 9.

"I thought he trialled pretty impressively and the opposition was handy enough," Gelagotis said.

"He's come back in good order and seems to have matured a bit.

"Hopefully we can have a bit of luck in the run and he'll be able to tell us where he's at in his career.

"I think the horse that wins this race will be going on to bigger and better things."

Illustrious Lad is on the third line of betting at $6 with Wild Rain the $2.90 favourite.