A solid recent record by three-year-olds has connections of Hard Stride considering a start in Saturday’s Monash Stakes at Caulfield.

Hard Stride is one of a trio of three-year-olds among the 16 entries for the Monash Stakes (1100m) which will carry Group Three status for the first time.

Stakes-winning filly Mezeray Miss and the speedy Robbie Laing-trained colt Lord Of The Sky are also likely to tackle the older horses in the $135,000 contest.

Trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra have also entered Hard Stride in a 1400m race for three-year-olds at Caulfield and will choose the gelding’s path on Tuesday.

Zahra said the three-year-old age group’s record of five wins in the Monash Stakes since 2000 gave him and Ellerton plenty to consider.

“The three-year-olds always run well in the race and our horse is hard fit after 10 runs this time in,” Zahra said.

“He won at Caulfield the last time he was there but the 1400 metre race also looks a good option for him.”

Platelet was the last three-year-old to win the Monash Stakes in 2012 before she went on to become a dual Group One winner in Adelaide the following year.

The Mike Moroney-trained African Pulse is set to resume in the Monash Stakes along with Mr Make Believe, who will have his first start for Laing after previously racing as part of the Peter Moody stable.

Moody won the Monash Stakes with Reward For Effort in 2010 and has entered Ready To Rip for this year’s renewal of the race.

Laing will unveil one of the most interesting runners at Caulfield if Kindergarden Kid steps out in the 1400m open handicap.

Kindergarden Kid was a Grade Three winner in the US before he finished midfield behind local star Little Mike in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf over 2400m.

Kindergarden Kid is part-owned by Kevin and Colleen Bamford, who also shared in the ownership of 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Americain with champion US stallion Dynaformer is the sire of both horses.