Zavite is showing Anthony Cummings he is in better shape this time around for his upcoming two-state mission which includes a defence of his Adelaide Cup crown.The stayer returns from an eight-week let-up in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Friday.It will be the Zabeel gelding's first race since his unplaced run in the Melbourne Cup.In February this year, Zavite was beaten a head in the Group Three Hobart Cup (2200m) before going on to win the Launceston Cup (2400m) later t

Zavite is showing Anthony Cummings he is in better shape this time around for his upcoming two-state mission which includes a defence of his Adelaide Cup crown.

The stayer returns from an eight-week let-up in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Friday.

It will be the Zabeel gelding's first race since his unplaced run in the Melbourne Cup.

In February this year, Zavite was beaten a head in the Group Three Hobart Cup (2200m) before going on to win the Launceston Cup (2400m) later that month.

He then travelled to South Australia in March and claimed a career high with victory in the Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m).

"I think he's in better nick now than he was this time last year," Cummings said.

Zavite was eighth to Tommifrancs in the Tattersalls Club Cup in January this year after an eight-week let-up.

He went on to be sixth in the Underwood Cup (2000m) at Rosehill, before winning the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

Cummings has made a slight change this time around, ahead of the Tattersalls Cup and given Zavite a 1030-metre barrier trial at Rosehill on December 22.

"It's been a while between runs and first-up over 2000 will mean that he'll improve after this but he's a nice horse and has beaten better than these," Cummings said.

"He certainly will go to Hobart and Adelaide, but we'll see how he's going as far as the Launceston Cup is concerned.

"By the time he got over to Adelaide, he was pretty light and Launceston was maybe one run too many for him last time."

TAB Sportsbet fixed odds has Zavite at $18 while the Hawkes training partnership runner Rainbow Styling is the $2.90 favourite.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Rabbuka is the second favourite at $4.80, while Lyncean Academy from the Guy Walter yard is next in line at $5.

Lyncean Academy has two wins over 1800 metres but is yet to win over Friday's distance.

However, the six-year-old was third to Ready To Lift over 2400 metres in the Listed McKell Cup at Rosehill in May.

Lyncean Academy made up plenty of ground last start when fifth to Palacio De Cristal in the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 19.

Walter is expecting a solid tempo with noted frontrunners Zavite and Rabbuka likely to give swooper Lyncean Academy every chance to hit top gear in the run home.