Regal Zeus will be entered for two Stakes races on Saturday, with trainer John McArdle set to choose between the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) and the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.

The Bendigo Golden Mile winner continues to build an impressive record, capturing his first black-type success in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) on April 12.

“He will be an acceptor up there and for the Listed Mile race down here,” McArdle said.

“We’ll just have a look at both races, but the Hawkesbury Gold Cup does get you into The Big Dance, so that’s certainly a good carrot, so we’ll weigh it up and make a plan.”

Finishing first or second in key NSW Cups provides eligibility for the lucrative $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) held on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick.

Regal Zeus has placed first or second in 10 of his past 11 starts, with his only miss being a sixth at Caulfield last October before bouncing back with a victory at Moonee Valley.

Since resuming, he has posted a second at Moonee Valley, a Caulfield win, and most recently, a Bendigo success.

Should he travel, Hawkesbury would be Regal Zeus’s first run outside Victoria, though McArdle isn’t concerned.

“He’s a tough horse,” McArdle said.

“It will be the first time that he will travel if we go to Hawkesbury, but not too much bothers him.

“We’ll accept in both places, look at fields and barriers and work it out from there.”

My Oberon tops the 22 Hawkesbury Cup entries, while Pride Of Jenni headlines 25 nominations for the Anniversary Vase. Holymanz, Socks Nation, and Welwal are also entered in both events.