Brisbane raider Burdekin Blues has the class to overcome a quality collection of three-year-olds and win Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m), according to jockey Shane Scriven.
Burdekin Blues, a winner of his past four starts, including an 1100m race at Flemington during the Spring Carnival, will start a warm favourite for the first Group One race of 2010 after drawing barrier 10.
Scriven admits that conceding weight to the eight three-year-olds in the race under weight for age conditions will make it hard for the improving Queensalnder, but thinks he has what it takes to win his first race at the elite level.
"He's up against the big boys on Saturday, but he's there to prove himself," Scriven said. "They’re a good crop of three-year-olds, at weight for age they get a good pull in the weights ... but it's 1000 metres and they'd want to be at their best."
Scriven, who has ridden Burdekin Blues in his past three starts, said the barrier is no concern and he will be pressing forward regardless of which side the Flemington straight the field goes to.
"I probably would have liked to have drawn in the middle," he said. "It will depend on whether they're going one way or another or if we're staying in the middle, so we'll play that by ear. If he's not in front though he won't be far away."
The race features the two Guineas winners from last year, Caulfield Guineas winner Starspangledbanner and Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights. Starspangledbanner is set to challenge for favouritism while Irish Lights, a winner down the Flemington straight, is around the $9 mark.
Irish Lights' stablemate Nicconi, the winner of the Group One Galaxy Stakes last year at Randwick, is $5.50.
Headway, who won the Group One Coolmore Stakes (1200m) at Flemington at her last start is currently $8 after drawing barrier 11.
"She'll be in the second half of the field, but all we need is some speed on so touch wood we get that," jockey Luke Nolen said of Headway's chances.
Headway is the more fancied of Peter Moody's chances, with Wanted ($13) and Duporth ($16) also given some chance.
"I would have been happy to ride any one of the three, but Pete made the choice for me and I'm more than happy to stick with this filly," Nolen added.