Damien Oliver’s spring started with the jockey serving the final weeks of a 10-month ban from racing.

On Saturday he is in a strong position to notch his first Group One win since his comeback when he rides Prince Harada in the Caulfield Guineas.

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Prince Harada is second favourite in the Guineas to give Oliver his 98th Group One winner.

With his booking for Fiorente in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup as well as Jet Away in next week’s Caulfield Cup, there’s every chance Oliver can post a century of Group One victories before the end of the spring.

But first there’s Caulfield Guineas day and Oliver is looking forward to partnering the exciting Prince Harada who is potentially as good as any horse Tony Vasil has trained.

The colt heads into the Guineas off a four-week break after struggling to find clear running in the Golden Rose when fifth behind Zoustar.

Before that Prince Harada, who won his first two off-season starts in impressive fashion, ran an unlucky second in the McNeil Stakes.

“He’s always shown a bit and hasn’t had the best of luck or a lot of room in his past couple of starts,” Oliver said.

“The Guineas is a tough race. There’s a number of chances, so he’ll just need things to go his way.”

Oliver rode Prince Harada for the first time in a leisurely track gallop last Saturday and thought it was important going into the feature race.

“He’s a month between runs but Tony sort of planned it that way,” Oliver said.

“He thought after his trip to Sydney that he wanted to have a fresh horse coming into the race.

“Fingers crossed, he’s on his home track and he looks a good chance.”

Oliver said he had been fortunate to link with a number of potential spring stars.

“You just never know in this business. You’ve just got to work hard and hopefully the breaks come your way,” he said.

The Peter Snowden-trained Long John remains Guineas favourite at $4 ahead of Prince Harada at $4.60 and New Zealand colt El Roca at $7.50.