Tiger Tees' class proved the difference at the end of Saturday's Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

Tiger Tees won the Group One The Galaxy and finished third in the All Aged Stakes during the Sydney autumn carnival but trainer Joe Pride decided to start his season in Melbourne rather than the Group Two Missile Stakes at Randwick.

The seven-year-old finished fourth in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) in 2012 at his last run down the Flemington straight course before returning 20 months later to break his Melbourne duck as a well-backed $2.80 favourite.

Last season's Melbourne jockeys' premiership winner Damien Oliver was content to let Tiger Tees race in his normal prominent position before sending him to the lead inside the 300m.

His 59.5kg impost began to anchor Tiger Tees but the gelding's condition held out long enough to beat the rejuvenated Mr Chard, now with Adelaide trainer Tony McEvoy, by a head.

"He's a quirky kind of horse. He goes and waits a bit but he fought them off when he needed to," Oliver said.

"There's a bit of improvement to come but he was pretty good for today."

Honest local sprinter Zamorar raced near the speed before battling strongly late to hold third ahead of the Peter Moody-trained mare Sino Eagle.

Spring hopefuls Text'N Hurley and Crackerjack King produced contrasting first-up runs with the former working home to finish midfield while Crackerjack King failed to beat a runner home.

Now trained by David Hayes and Tom Daberning, Crackerjack King raced keenly at his first start for nearly two years after a tendon injury and falted in his action at the 300m.

"It will be interesting when he pulls up because he was travelling really well but when I let him down, he went to quicken and then he stumbled," Walker said.

Text'N Hurley's rider Chad Schofield said the Colin Little-trained mare began her Caulfield Cup preparation in solid fashion.

"She hit the line very strongly and she's in for a very good prep," he said.