A host of interstate visitors have made their way to the city of churches to contest the time honoured features, both of which will carry a purse of $1m and with five other events to be run at group level, we're set for an exciting day of racing.
The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a soft 5.
We've had a close look at all nine races on the program and our thoughts can be found below.
RACE 1 - 12:32PM: GRAND SYNDICATES HANDICAP 0-68 (1100 METRES)
Aviatress is a filly with plenty of upside and she makes her return to the races here.
The daughter of Smart Missile kicked of her career in good style, posting back to back wins before heading to Flemington, where she tackled the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes on Oaks Day.
At just her third start, she handled the occasion well and after settling in the second half of the field, charged home late to claim fourth.
She comes here off a recent trial win and looks ready to go.
Jake Toeroek has partnered the filly in all three starts, he stays in the saddle and from barrier two she's set to get the gun run.
3 units – AVIATRESS
RACE 2 - 1:07PM: BREEDERS' STAKES 2YO SW GROUP 3 (1200 METRES)
Growing Empire comes off an impressive all-the-way stakes win at just his second race start.
Slightly slow away off the inside gate, he was pressed forward and never looked in doubt, producing a strong kick to post a two length margin on the line in the Listed St Alban Stakes.
It was a much improved performance from the son of Zoustar, who did a lot wrong on debut, including veering out after passing the post and crashing through the outside rail.
A set of blinkers looked to have worked wonders for the Ciaron Maher trained colt, as he was completely focused on the job at hand last time.
Mark Zahra goes aboard and if he can cross from the wide gate without doing too much work early, he should prove hard to beat. .
1 unit – GROWING EMPIRE
RACE 3 - 1:42PM: PFD FOOD SERVICES CHAIRMAN'S STAKES 3YO SW GROUP 3 (2000 METRES)
Warmonger comes off a narrow defeat behind Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas last time and I think he can turn the tables on him here.
Over the 1800m journey, the War Decree gelding settled just worse than midfield, he crept up along the rail and really knuckled down strongly over the final 100m to get within a nose on the line.
The rise in trip will certainly suit and he looks ready to peak at his third run back from a break.
Damian Lane knows him well and goes back onboard for the Price / Kent team.
1 unit – WARMONGER
RACE 4 - 2:17PM: JOHN HAWKES STAKES (FORMALLY D C MCKAY STAKES) QUALITY GROUP 3 (1100 METRES)
What You Need resumed off a long break with a very encouraging effort in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap.
Only lightly raced having had the four starts, he was sent to the paddock after a dominant debut win and returned to make it two from two in March of last year.
His most recent victory was in the Listed Sunlight Classic, where he beat home a very handy field.
Still an entire, he will have taken good improvement from that first up outing and he'll appreciate the step up to 1100m.
Craig Williams stays in the saddle and he's drawn to get every chance.
1 unit – WHAT YOU NEED
RACE 5 - 2:52PM: TOBIN BRONZE STAKES 3YO SW GROUP 2 (1200 METRES)
Skybird was doing her best work late when resuming over 1100m at Bendigo a fortnight ago.
Off an awkward draw she got back, was always wide and never looked overly comfortable in the run but still finished off nicely under the 61kg impost.
A highly talented filly, she made in three from four in her first preparation, with a win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic before a solid effort to finish third in the Caulfield Guineas.
Whilst she will continue to improve as she steps out over that bit further, she has won over the 1200m previously and she'll certainly appreciate the 5.5kg drop in the weights.
Beau Mertens will again do the steering and barrier five may see her settle that bit closer in the run.
1 unit E/W – SKYBIRD
RACE 6 - 3:27PM: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH STAKES F&M GROUP 2 (1600 METRES)
Seonee has finished off nicely in two runs back and looks ready for the mile.
A winner of eight from twenty-one, the Patrick Payne trained mare knows how to get the job done and whilst she doesn't have the best record over this trip, her two recent runs certainly suggest she's looking for it.
Held up in the early part of the straight when resuming over 1200m, she charged home late into third and last start, in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap, she was again hitting the line strongly but just found one better on the day.
She gets back against her own sex here and has the advantage of the inside draw.
1 unit – SEONEE
RACE 7 - 4:07PM: AUSTRALASIAN OAKS 3YO FILLIES SW GROUP 1 (2000 METRES)
The NZ Oaks winner Pulchritudinous makes her Australian debut.
Now under the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the Wrote filly proved too good over the 2000, taking out the Group Three Lowland Stakes in good style.
Following that, she lined up in the Group One NZ Oaks and got the job done comfortably.
After settling midfield, she was produced into the clear at the top of the straight and let down strongly to score by just under two lengths.
With a month since that run, she's been given a 1200m Randwick trial where she was strong through the line and it was good to see let down on the good 4 surface as that looked to be the only query with her.
Tim Clarke takes the mount and from barrier seven she's set to get the right run.
1 unit – PULCHRITUDINOUS
RACE 8 - 4:42PM: ROBERT SANGSTER STAKES F&M WFA GROUP 1 (1200 METRES)
Zapateo looks well placed to make it back to back Group One wins after taking out the The Galaxy last start.
The Godolphin mare has been racing in top form this campaign, beaten just over a length when resuming in the Rubiton Stakes she was then just collared in the shadows of the post in the Challenge Stakes.
She presents here at peak fitness, the rise to 1200m will suit and she did turn out a terrific performance to finish third in this race last year.
Jamie Kah goes onboard and barrier three will see her afforded a soft run.
1 unit – ZAPATEO
RACE 9 - 5:20PM: THOMAS FARMS HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Chicago Storm comes off a solid win in the Listed City of Adelaide Handicap here two weeks ago.
Taken to the lead from a wide draw, he was rated beautifully in front by Carlene Hefel and showed a good kick in the straight to win comfortably.
A winner of eight races, the son of Trust in A Gust is highly talented and he looks well placed to get the job done again.
The slight rise to 1600m looks ideal and he's set to receive all the favours from the low draw.
1 unit – CHICAGO STORM
