Tried and true stayer Zavite and his talented but less experienced stablemate Nothin' Leica Cat will take their next steps towards the Melbourne Cup when they compete against each other in the Hill Stakes.Trainer Anthony Cummings also expects to make an appearance at Rosehill on Saturday after time out for a hip replacement.It has already been a good week for the Randwick trainer with Lovemelikearock claiming the Group Three Spring Stakes at Newcastle and putting herself in contention for the Gr

Tried and true stayer Zavite and his talented but less experienced stablemate Nothin' Leica Cat will take their next steps towards the Melbourne Cup when they compete against each other in the Hill Stakes.

Trainer Anthony Cummings also expects to make an appearance at Rosehill on Saturday after time out for a hip replacement.

It has already been a good week for the Randwick trainer with Lovemelikearock claiming the Group Three Spring Stakes at Newcastle and putting herself in contention for the Group One Flight Stakes on October 3.

Cummings is confident Adelaide Cup winner Zavite will show he is on target for the big spring features and is also expecting a big performance from Queensland Oaks runner-up Nothin' Leica Cat.

"She's a pretty nice mare and continues to promise quite a lot," Cummings said.

"She still has L-plates on despite having been competitive at the top level so there's quite a bit of upside to her and I'm looking forward to the spring.

"This will be a nice stepping stone for her, she goes around and we'll see how she pulls up then we will have a look at what her more immediate goals will be apart from the fact she is on a Cups preparation."

"Zavite is hitting gear. I think the first time he really shows up this preparation will be there on Saturday.

"He'll certainly be more at home over the longer trips and once he finds his comfortable trip this prep he will show up really well.

"He's well and truly on track for the Melbourne Cup."

Zavite failed to make the field for the 2008 Melbourne Cup but more than made amends with his feats in late summer and early autumn.

His victory in the Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick was followed by a close second in the Hobart Cup (2200m) on February 9.

He backed up to win the Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 25 and nine days later proved his mettle with his 3200 metre triumph in the Group Two Adelaide Cup.

Nash Rawiller rode him in all those starts but Glyn Schofield has been given the responsibility in the Hill Stakes.

Kerrin McEvoy, who rode Purple to beat Nothin' Leica Cat in the Queensland Oaks, will be aboard the latter.

The Cummings-trained Red Lord runs in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield but is unlikely to head to the Melbourne Cup after finishing 16th last year.

"We are probably looking more at the Caulfield Cup, the two miles found him out last time," Cummings said.

"But he'll get to the Caulfield Cup then we'll work out what we do with him from there."