Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina could renew her rivalry with stablemate Aelina in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, but trainer Chris Waller will also have a strong hand in Sydney with an exciting team of three-year-olds.

Leading the charge is Wodeton, runner-up in the Golden Slipper, who resumes in The Run To The Rose (1200m) after an eye-catching second in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) where he was blocked for a run late. After a string of Group placings last season, Waller is eager for him to break through. “As a two-year-old, (he raced) without much luck, so it was nice to see him come back like that,” Waller said. “We know he’s going to improve with a bit of distance.”

New recruit Beiwacht, formerly trained by James Cummings, also impressed first-up when third in the San Domenico despite covering ground. Drawn perfectly in gate four, he has his trainer optimistic about Group 1 goals. “If he settles from a good draw, he could go there as well,” Waller said. “He’s a very nice horse. A professional horse. He’s a very good type and he is already a Group Two winner. He’s got a box left to tick and that’s a Group One.”

Stablemate Hidden Achievement, runner-up in the J J Atkins, is also entered for The Run To The Rose but faces a tough task from barrier 16, while Sixties has been redirected to the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), where he meets unbeaten colt Autumn Boy.

Autumn Boy was flawless during his winter campaign, scoring on debut at Canterbury and then taking out a Listed 1400m contest at Eagle Farm. Waller believes he is shaping as a serious classic contender. “He’s by The Autumn Sun and he got a mile easily, so it’s exciting,” Waller said. “We’d like to run him in the Golden Rose but Saturday will tell us more and then it would be nice to be running in a Caulfield Guineas.”