Okita Soushi will kick off his 2025 spring campaign at Moonee Valley on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher stable plots a path back to the Melbourne Cup, where he finished third last year.

The Irish-bred galloper has raced only once since that effort, running over 2000m at Flemington in January, and resumes in the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m). The run will be the first of three lead-ups into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October and the Melbourne Cup in November.

Jack Turnbull, Maher’s National Assistant Trainer, admitted the 1523m trip was short of his ideal distance. “But because of his program and where we want to get to, being the Melbourne Cup, this is a nice starting point,” he said. “He’s only had the one public jump-out, so naturally there will be good improvement.”

Okita Soushi missed an autumn preparation after sustaining a minor suspensory issue. “He did tweak a suspensory branch, not a full tendon injury, and that is why he had the time off,” Turnbull said. “He doesn’t like wet tracks, so missing the autumn was an easier thing, although it would have been nice to have been there for the Sydney Cup.”

The stayer will next target the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before stepping into the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and then pressing on to the Cups.

Stablemate Go Daddy, another Irish import, also lines up at Moonee Valley for his Australian debut. “He’s there to run well, but I would imagine he will settle towards the back and be running on,” Turnbull said. “He’s one we’ll poke up through the handicap system and try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup, if he’s good enough.”

The Maher camp also accepted with Detonator Jack, while Running By is more likely to head to Adelaide for the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m).

Punters can track Okita Soushi’s progress towards the Melbourne Cup with betting markets available via Australia’s leading betting sites.