The race used to launch the spring campaigns of Colin Little's former stable star El Segundo will be the starting point for the trainer's latest big-race hopeful Text'n Hurley.

The Group Two Sunline Stakes winner starts her preparation aimed at the $3 million Caulfield Cup in Saturday's Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

El Segundo ran first-up in four Aurie's Star Handicaps between 2005 and 2009, placing three times in the sprint.

His spring campaigns netted Group One wins in the 2005 Caulfield Stakes, 2006 Underwood Stakes and 2007 Cox Plate.

While Little expects the 1200m of Aurie's Star to be too short for Text'n Hurley, he hopes she can emerge later in the spring as a Caulfield Cup chance.

"I don't think this mare has got (El Segundo's) turn of foot or his class, but I think she is going all right," Little said.

"It's an unknown quantity, with all the overseas horses the Caulfield Cup is a race that is probably improving all the time.

"But I think we know what we've got here. We don't know what the opposition will be but we're happy to take them on at this stage."

Text'n Hurley is a $15 chance in Aurie's Star betting against Group One-winning sprinter Tiger Tees who is the $3.40 favourite.

"She needs all of 1400 (metres) and probably 1600 to show her best so I think they'll just go too quick for her," Little said.

Little is convinced Text'n Hurley will run 2400m but kept her to 2040m and below last campaign which culminated in her Sunline Stakes (1600m) win.

The Joe Pride-trained Tiger Tees finished third to Fontelina and Spirit Of Boom in the 2012 Group Two Yellowglen Stakes and fourth to Mental in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic a week later in his only two Flemington starts.

He is favourite ahead of last-start Flemington winner Zamorar and 2012 Aurie's Star winner Shanghai Warrior.