Ballarat trainers Archie Alexander and Mitch Freedman line up major players in the $1m Victoria Oaks at Flemington on Thursday as each strives for a first group 1 success.
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Alexander has Gamay engaged, while Freedman sends arounds Moonlight Maid in the three-year-old fillies' classic over 2500m.
Moonlight Maid is second favourite behind the Danny O'Brien-trained Miami Bound, while Gamay is on the third line of betting.
Freedman has already gone close to snaring a group 1 in this year's Melbourne Cup Carnival, with Southern Moon finishing second in Saturday's Victoria Derby.
Ben Melham takes the ride on Moonlight Maid as she strives to make it an all-Ballarat flavoured victory.
Alexander, who originally hails from England, has booked his former countryman Ryan Moore to be in the saddle on Gamay, which locked in an Oaks start by taking out the group 3 Ethereal Stakes, 2000m, at Caulfield on October 19.
Moonlight Maid's past two starts have produced a win in the group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes, 1600m, at Flemington on October 5, and second in the group 2 Drummond Golf Vase, 2040m, at Moonee Valley on October 26.
The Michelle Payne-trained and ridden Victory Approach, one of the outsiders, rounds out the Ballarat interests in the Oaks.
The long odds will certainly not faze Payne.
She rode Miner's Miss into third place at big odds in the Victoria Oaks last year for her father Paddy Payne after the filly backed up from an Avoca maiden win.
