Each Monday, Saturday Bound takes an early look at the weekend nominations, the likely fields and the first markets as the major players decide where they'll line up.
After Randwick delivered last Saturday, the spotlight shifts to Melbourne. The G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) launches Group 1 racing in Victoria for the spring and has attracted a deep field.
G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) — WFA
The Memsie has developed into one of the key starting points for the spring's leading weight-for-age horses since gaining Group 1 status in 2013.
Last year showed exactly why.
Treasurethe Moment won the Memsie before finishing third in the Cox Plate, while Memsie third-placegetter Buckaroo went on to run second in the Cox Plate. Sandwiched between them at Caulfield was Mr Brightside, who later went within a whisker of winning the G1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Twelve months on and the race could be even stronger.
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher could provide almost half of the maximum 16-horse field between them.
Waller has Angel Capital, Autumn Boy, Birdman and Buckaroo on track to run, while a call is still to be made on Beiwacht.
Maher's hand is equally strong, with Jimmysstar, Another Wil and Light Infantry Man likely runners and Warnie another possibility.
The market says there isn't much between the leading chances. Cosmic Crusader and Jimmysstar are $4.00 equal favourites, with Angel Capital at $5.00.
G3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) — 3YOs
The McNeil is where a few different spring paths start to take shape.
The sharper three-year-olds can use the 1200m contest as an early stepping stone towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes, while those expected to stretch out in distance can begin their journey towards the Caulfield Guineas and beyond.
There are 18 nominations this year, headed by New Zealand Group 1-winning juvenile Seize The Day and Magic Millions Classic winner Unit Five.
The bookies are yet to put up a market. They must be running scared.
G3 The Heath (1100m) — Open
War Machine will be hoping for a much smoother start to his spring this time around.
He was heavily backed to win the Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington first-up but never got the chance, breaking through the barriers and being scratched before the race. All reports since suggest he came through the incident without any issues.
His task doesn't get any easier in The Heath.
Last-start Group 1 runner-up Bridal Waltz is set to resume, while Warrnambool Wangoom Handicap winner Oliveanotherday is also among the nominations.
Punters have wasted no time finding the latter. Oliveanotherday has already been backed from $3.50 into $2.20, with War Machine at $3.50.
Rosehill — G3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m)
Sydney takes a slightly quieter role this weekend, although the San Domenico Stakes might have something to say about that.
Golden Slipper winner Guest House ($4.20) makes his return and immediately runs into several highly regarded three-year-olds.
Warwoven is also $4.20, Central Europe is $8.00, with Blue Door at $4.20 another major name among the nominations.
On paper, it has all the ingredients to be the race of the day at Rosehill and an important early pointer towards the major three-year-old races later in the spring.
G3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m)
The Up And Coming Stakes gives another batch of three-year-olds the opportunity to put their hand up for bigger spring assignments.
The early market has the Waterhouse-Bott-trained Plagiarism on top at $3.50.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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