The Cadbury Guineas looms as the highlight of the Melbourne autumn carnival with last year's Cox Plate quinella, So You Think and Manhattan Rain, and Caulfield Guineas hero Starspangledbanner among those nominated for the 1600m Group One race on March 6.
The current crop of three-year-olds is considered to have the greatest depth of any in a number of years and most of the rising stars of the Australian turf are among the nominations for the Guineas.
So You Think, trained by the legendary Bart Cummings, won Australia's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the $3 million Cox Plate, easily last October after a bold front-running ride from Glen Boss, while Gai Waterhouse's star Manhattan Rain enhanced his reputation with a slashing second.
But both were beaten two weeks earlier by Starspangledbanner in the Caulfield Guineas, held over the same distance as the autumn feature.
Also in the nominations are Caulfield Guineas runner-up Carrara and Victoria Derby runner-up Extra Zero as well as Denman, who failed when favourite at his last start in the Caulfield Guineas. It was just the second defeat of his eight-start career.
All are in the $750,000 event in what looms as a fascinating showdown.
The two best fillies of the spring, Irish Lights and Black Caviar, are also nominated.
The only notable three-year-old not nominated for the race is Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul, who is headed to the New Zealand Derby.
Nominations for the $1 million Australian Cup have also closed with the winners of the past two Melbourne Cups, Shocking and Viewed, both included along with eight horses from David Hayes' yard.
Hayes has nominated former Irish galloper Changingoftheguard, who was scratched on Melbourne cup morning last year, as he looks to back up his success with Niconero in last year's Australian Cup.
Sirmione, the 2008 winner, is nominated as he looks to make a comeback to the track, while 2007 Cox Plate winner El Segundo is also entered.
The third feature of Super Saturday is the $1 million Newmarket Handicap with former Australian Racehorse of the Year Weekend Hussler, who has not raced in 12 months, the most notable nomination.
Also there are All Silent and American raider Cannonball along with the impressive mare Typhoon Tracy. But none of the first seven placegetters from last year's race, which was won by Scenic Blast, are entered.