Mick Cerchi found a successful formula with stayer Tanby and is sticking to the same plan 12 months later.

"Don't play with what ain't broke," Cerchi said as he prepares Tanby for a second tilt at the Ballarat Cup on Saturday.

Cerchi is following the same program that brought Tanby success in the Adelaide Cup and a part of that build-up is the Ballarat Cup on Saturday.

It will be Tanby's third start this time in following runs in the Seymour Cup and a Listed race at Flemington over 1800m on Melbourne Cup, the same two races he contested last year on his way to finishing seventh behind Mujadale in the Ballarat Cup.

This year though Tanby has drawn barrier 17 in a capacity field of 18.

"The barrier takes him out of play this week," Cerchi said.

"He'll most likely have to go back from that draw so I just want to see the horse run home in the last half mile and where that puts him, I'm not sure.

"The horse needs to go and get a bit of confidence and everyone else needs to get a bit of confidence that he's still going okay."

Cerchi said he takes little notice of Tanby's first few runs of a campaign.

He said Tanby was run off his legs first-up at Seymour and knew the gelding would finish where he did at Flemington as he was travelling on the bridle too far from home.

"If they're running home quicker in 1800-metre races than over 1200 metres, you're in a bit of trouble," Cerchi said.

Cerchi said Tanby would head to the Werribee Cup on December 13 before the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year's day.

Tanby ran second to Averau in the Bagot this year, part of the long lead-up to the Adelaide Cup that saw him defeat Taiyoo and Renew.

If Tanby's finishing off the race as well as Cerchi hopes on Saturday then he'll know his long range goals are attainable.

"If he won the Bagot Handicap I'd be pretty rapt and if he won the Adelaide Cup again I'd be even happier," Cerchi said.

"But he's another year older and that makes it difficult."