Luck in the early running will be key to Merlini’s chances in Saturday’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.

A last-start second on the course, the Tony Pike-prepared representative will jump from the outside gate on his return.

“It’s a similar field to last time, obviously Astor and a couple of others are turning up, but if he can get across and do no work then he’s an each-way chance,” the Cambridge trainer said.

Meanwhile, plans for a proposed trip to Australia for Caricature have been shelved after the filly’s unplaced run in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.

“She really had to win. It’s hard to go to Adelaide off that, but she’s had a good season all the same,” Pike said.

Caricature placed in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) before finishing fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).