The prospect of taking on Black Caviar in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield is likely to keep some Sydney weight-for-age stars at home where their task may not be much easier against Rain Affair in the Apollo Stakes.

Trainer Joe Pride nominated Rain Affair for the Group One Futurity but said with the chance of a slow or heavy track in Sydney, he would be silly to take the four-year-old south just yet.

Unlike many others, he is keen to have a crack at the champion mare with Rain Affair, especially on a wet track.

“The forecast is that it will be wet here so it is an easy decision to make,” Pride said.

“So racing against Black Caviar is on ice for now but I’d love to give it a go especially if we got the right conditions.

“She might come for the TJ Smith in Sydney so we could have a crack at her then.”

The Group Two Apollo at Rosehill will be the front-running Rain Affair’s first attempt at 1400 metres, something that Pride doesn’t believe will faze him.

“I’ve got no concerns,” he said.

The race will be Rain Affair’s lead-up to the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10 where he will be vying for his first Group One victory.

The winner of nine of his 10 starts, Rain Affair is also adept on good surfaces but handles the wet better than most.

His Doncaster-winning stablemate Sacred Choice is also among the 17 Apollo entries taken on Monday.

The David Payne-trained Centennial Park, who ran third last year behind star mares Melito and Hot Danish, was also entered for the Futurity as were Star Of Octagonal, Niwot and Shoot Out.

Trainer Chris Waller said Shoot Out had been entered for Caulfield as a precaution against severe weather in Sydney but would only go south if there was a threat Rosehill would be called off.

Centennial Park finished four lengths second to Rain Affair last Saturday week in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) on a slow Rosehill track.

“Peter Moody begged me not to come so I think we’ll stay here,” Payne said.

“It’s going to be wet in Sydney but it can’t be much worse than he raced on last time.”

Although he won’t have a Futurity Stakes runner, Payne will pit Master Of Design and Winter King against star three-year-old Sepoy in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

“Craig Williams will ride Master Of Design at 53 kilograms but we don’t have a jockey yet for Winter King,” Payne said.

Winter King will carry 52.5kg with Sepoy the 58kg topweight, four kilos more than up and coming star Bel Sprinter who is regarded as his main danger.