After claiming victory in the Australian Cup last weekend, Ciaron Maher will be back at Caulfield this weekend, targeting another 2000-metre feature with multiple runners in the Group 3 Easter Cup.

Future History and Night Endeavour are confirmed starters, with Normandy Bridge and Port Philip also nominated for the $200,000 race.

Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull explained that Future History was initially aimed at the Australian Cup, but after a seventh-place finish in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and a fifth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), the decision was made to lower expectations.

“Initially the Australian Cup was his plan, but we just thought last start he really didn’t do enough to warrant going there, especially given what was going to go there,” Turnbull said.

Night Endeavour will make his return since a disappointing run at Sandown on February 1, with Turnbull optimistic after a solid second-place finish in a 1400m jumpout at Cranbourne on March 17.

“He’s coming back off a freshen, he was never out of work, but he went to Ballarat and had a change of scenery where he was on a grass paddock but still ticking over,” Turnbull said.

The Easter Cup is one of two $200,000 Group 3 features at Caulfield, alongside the Victoria Handicap, which has attracted entries like former Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile.