Azkadellia was a certainty beaten at her last start in the $500,000 group 1 Myer Classic at the VRC Melbourne Cup Carnival last year, according to Maher.

"Azkadellia is a top class mare. She should have won the Myer Classic,” he said.

“The pattern of racing was against her at Flemington.

"She's not fully wound up for her first up run, as we've got big upcoming races in Sydney on the agenda, but I'm confident she'll still run well on Saturday.

“She's the class runner of the field and has been working well. Her first-up record is very good, so she should be really competitive."

Maher also saddles up Emphatically in the $200,000 group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies, as her final lead-up before a start in the $1.5 million group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 27.

"I was happy with Emphatically's first up run,” he said.

“She only got caught over the concluding stages. She's improved from that run.

"She's drawn a good barrier and should be well placed in the run.

“I think she's on an upward spiral towards a start in the Blue Diamond Stakes.”

Darren Weir's Warrnambool satellite stable will play a significant role in the feature races at Caulfield.

Lucky Hussler, Trust In A Gust and Stratum Star run in the $500,000 group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes for Victoria's leading trainer.

Mahuta takes his place in the $200,000 group 2 Autumn Stakes while Manndawi accept for the Carylon Cup and Felcienne runs in the Bellmaine Stakes.

Meanwhile, champion jockey Damien Oliver makes his first visit to Colac to ride the Peter Moody-trained Ancient King in the $50,000 Colac Cup on Sunday.

Ancient King, who is resuming after a seven-month break, is one of four rides the premier jockey has on the eight-race program.

“I've never ridden in the Colac Cup before, but in saying that I've never ridden at Colac,” Oliver said.

“It'll be another great experience.”

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde will try to win his second Colac Cup with See What I Bring in the 2000-metre race.

Wilde and See What I Bring's owners Doug and Ann Parker teamed up to win the cup before with Whelan.

“It's See What I Bring's first attempt at 2000 metres. His last two runs over 1600 metres have been excellent,” Wilde said.

“I'm confident he will run out a strong 2000 metres, but you never know until you try it.

“My biggest concern is Colac usually favors front runners, or horses on the pace.

“See What I Bring will be out the back early and I hope running home strong in the home straight.

“I just hope the pattern of racing suits him.”

Moody also accepted with Ancient King's stablemate Radical in the cup, while Weir has two of the final 12 acceptors in the feature.

The first race is scheduled for 1.30 pm, with the Colac Cup listed for a 4.00 pm start.