Trainer Mike Moroney is hoping Eskimo Queen can advance her Group One record and give him his second Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes victory at Caulfield on Saturday.Moroney said he had purposefully targeted the 1400-metre feature with the five-year-old mare, who last campaign became a dual Group One winner taking out the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in Sydney after winning the 2007 Queensland Oaks (2400m).The Sir Rupert Clarke is her chance to win a Group One in her home state and Mark Zahra is booked for

Trainer Mike Moroney is hoping Eskimo Queen can advance her Group One record and give him his second Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes victory at Caulfield on Saturday.

Moroney said he had purposefully targeted the 1400-metre feature with the five-year-old mare, who last campaign became a dual Group One winner taking out the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in Sydney after winning the 2007 Queensland Oaks (2400m).

The Sir Rupert Clarke is her chance to win a Group One in her home state and Mark Zahra is booked for the mount.

"It is going to be a strong field but I am very happy with the way she is going and she looks terrific," Moroney said.

"A little bit of rain would help her but she gets in nicely at the weights with 53.5kg and the 1400m looks ideal for her."

Moroney first won the Sir Rupert Clarke six years ago with Pernod who was successful second up after beating mares in the Cockram Stakes.

Eskimo Queen is having her first start since finishing eighth to stablemate Sarrera in the Group One Doomben Cup (2020m) in May.

Moroney has no doubts the Shinko King mare can score first-up despite her record of just one win from four starts when resuming from a spell.

He believes her first-up record is better than it looks.

The Flemington horseman said last spring Eskimo Queen finished second to Devil Moon when resuming in the Let's Elope Stakes after drawing wide and giving away a big start.

And last campaign she was blocked for a run when resuming at Caulfield in March.

"She couldn't get a go at them at all," Moroney lamented.

Clearly Moroney is hoping for a more fortunate spring than last year when Eskimo Queen was a late scratching at the barrier from the Caulfield Cup.

On an interrupted campaign she finished sixth to El Segundo in the Cox Plate but Moroney hasn't committed her to contesting the race again this year.

He said that after Saturday, the Group One Toorak Hcp (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 would be her goal.

"We will then decide whether we go for the Group One mares race at Flemington on Derby Day (Myer Classic over 1600m), or the Cox Plate a week earlier," Moroney said.

Final fields for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the Underwood Stakes will be declared on Wednesday morning.

The Underwood features another showdown between Weekend Hussler and Light Fantastic, who last start suffered his first defeat in six runs when fourth to the Ross McDonald-trained four-year-old in the Craiglee Stakes.

Light Fantastic beat Weekend Hussler when they both resumed in the Liston Stakes at Caulfield on August 16.

A total of 10 Group One winners have been nominated for the Underwood including Maldivian, Tears I Cry, Zarita, Pompeii Ruler, C'est La Guerre and Master O'Reilly.