The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable is aiming to get Emphasize’s Australian Derby campaign back on track with his upcoming run at Moonee Valley.

Emphasize will compete in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) on Saturday, with his performance determining whether he progresses to the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 5. The stable could have as many as four runners in the Derby.

Group 1 New Zealand Derby runner-up Thedoctoroflove has been confirmed for the Randwick race, while stablemates Tsitsipas and Confetti Garden will run in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill next Saturday to secure their spots.

Tsitsipas and Confetti Garden were also entered for the Alister Clark Stakes this weekend.

Emphasize, who won a maiden race at Sale in January, stepped up to beat older horses in a benchmark 70 race over 2000m at Caulfield on February 8. He then finished fourth in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) two weeks later, with Craig Williams aboard. Williams will ride him again on Saturday.

“He’s had a little bit of a freshen up,” Young said. “That last run at Caulfield, he wasn’t suited leading at that slow tempo, so it didn’t go our way, but he pulled up fine from it.”

“He’s had a nice relaxing week after that, and his work has been exceptional afterwards. If he gets around The Valley, I’m sure he’ll give it a shake, and depending on what happens on Saturday, he’ll be heading straight to the Derby where we could have four runners.”

“Tsitsipas and Confetti Garden will run in the Tulloch Stakes next week, while Thedoctoroflove, who finished second in the New Zealand Derby, will head straight to it.”