Thirteen nominations have been received for the Australia Stakes
Twelve horses are in the running to tackle Black Caviar when the champion mare returns to racing in Friday night's $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Horses from 11 different stables make up the entries for the 1200-metre event, which is the feature race on the eight-race program.
Doubtful Jack is the only other entry from Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, while Mark Webb is the other trainer with dual representation – the promising Johannapine and last-start Ararat maiden winner Arrogant Cat.
Mosheen and Rock Classic are the other Group 1 winners who have been entered for Victoria's first Group 2 race of 2012.
The Robert Smerdon-trained Mosheen hasn't started since her nine-length romp in last spring's Crown Oaks, while Bart Cummings' 2010 Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic is on the comeback trail after a tendon injury.
The Brendan McCarthy-trained Zedi Knight, winner of the Listed Christmas Stakes two runs back, classy South Australian Stirling Grove and Hollowlea and Sound Journey, both Group 2 winners over 1600m at Moonee Valley, head the remaining entries.
Precisely how many rivals Black Caviar will have as she strives to take her unbeaten record to 17 will be known when fields for all races are finalised on Wednesday morning.
Among the other highlights on Friday night's program is a $100,000 Premium Handicap for fillies and mares, for which last-start Valley winner Manila Jewel, Black Caviar's white-hot stablemate Power O'Raylee and 2010 Crown Oaks placegetter Placement have been entered.
The 11th heat of the Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge will also be run with Group 1 placegetter Miss Octopussy heading the entries for the 955m event restricted to fillies and mares.
The Australia Stakes meeting is part of a bumper few days of metropolitan racing in Victoria with the card preceded by Thursday's cracking Australia Day fixture at Caulfield and followed by a meeting at Sportingbet Park (Sandown) on Saturday.
- Racing Victoria