The Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington was once a traditional spring starting point for many Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup hopefuls prepared by the legendary Bart Cummings. The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin stable is looking to follow that blueprint with talented mare Lady In Pink, who resumes in Saturday’s Aurie’s Star as she embarks on a potential path towards the Caulfield Cup.

Leon Corstens, a long-time Melbourne foreman for Cummings, recalls the Aurie’s Star as an ideal first-up option because of its straight 1200m configuration, which provided a good fitness-building hit-out without the stress of a turning track.

“Leon was with Bart for a very long time, and he always used to kick off his Cups horses in this race,” Larkin said. “We’re going down the old-school route. Programming might have changed over time, but this race suits her as she tends to improve deeper into a preparation. Whatever she does first-up is often her worst run.”

The team had considered resuming Lady In Pink in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16 but ultimately opted for a lead-up run first. If all goes to plan, she will then progress to the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) two weeks later.

“Nothing is locked in, but the likely path is the P B Lawrence into the Heatherlie and then possibly the Underwood or Naturalism. The ultimate goal is to get her to the Caulfield Cup, although she still needs to prove herself at that level,” Larkin said.

While Lady In Pink kicks off her spring, stablemate Marble Nine will chase a fourth consecutive victory when he lines up in the Aurie’s Star. The straight-track specialist has won his past three starts at Flemington, including the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final on July 5.

Although connections initially considered spelling Marble Nine after that win, he thrived during a short paddock break. “After his last run he pulled up terrific, there was no sign of fatigue,” Larkin said. “He ticked every box at the farm and in a Flemington jump-out on July 18, so there was no reason not to press on. He loves the straight, puts himself on speed and can sustain a strong 1200m tempo.”