Limited three-year-old staying races have Peter Moody sending promising pair to the Australian Guineas, despite his reservations.

Victorious Spirit alongside Bingi are entered in Saturday's 1600m Group 1 at Flemington, and also a benchmark 66 same distance at Cranbourne Friday versus older foes.

Cranbourne weights of 61.5kg and 60kg await the Peter Moody-Katherine Coleman trained horses, but Saturday aligns better with plans.

"I probably don't need to be butting heads with those horses but it's the race that will take me to where I want him to be and Bingi is a bit the same," Moody said.

"I'm nearly forced to run them because there's no three-year-old race at a mile on a Wednesday meeting, or anything like that, and really there's only the Guineas, and if you want to go to 2000 (metres) at your next start, it doesn't help.

"He (Victorious Spirit) went well first-up and there may be worse than him there, but it would be nice to find something easier, and it would be cheaper than running in a Group 1.

"Hopefully he can finish in the top five to pay for the day."

Twelve horses chase the Australian Guineas, with Observer and Planet Red – who dominated the Autumn Stakes (1400m) one-two ahead of Victorious Spirit third – joined by C S Hayes Flemington winner Sixties.

Trainer Moody targets the Australian Derby via Victorious Spirit, the Ghaiyyath progeny also sire to Victoria Derby hero Observer, questioning readiness while Bingi eyes 2000m.

"He's the right horse for the Derby, but whether he's mature enough," Moody said of Victorious Spirit.

"We've got three Derbies still left, so there's a chance he could run in one of them.

"The Australian Derby is the only one I haven't won.

"I've won over in Perth, I've won the Northern Territory Derby as an owner, I've won in Tasmania, I've won a few in Queensland, as well Victoria and South Australia.

"I've been placed in the Australian Derby, so it's an itch I want to scratch."

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