Seventeen nominations have been taken for Saturday’s Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m); the feature race at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse.

Hey Doc has not been seen at the races since autumn, but is set to make his competitive return at Flemington on Saturday after being included in 2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap nominations.

Hey Doc has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far, but undoubtedly found his best form to date through the recent Autumn Carnival.

Resuming for third in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) on February 4^th, the Duporth gelding returned to winning form in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February 18^th before claiming a maiden win at the highest level in the talent-stacked Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 4^th.

Weathering a tough run in transit before finishing ninth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 1^st, Hey Doc ran credibly for sixth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) last time out on May 20^th and should carry some residual fitness into this race.

I Am A Star has also been outstanding through her whole racing career and has been included in 2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap nominations.

I Am A Star became the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at the conclusion of her impressive Spring Carnival campaign last year and resumed in February for second in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m).

Seventh in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) after a slow start, the I Am Invincible mare posted consecutive wins in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) before a lacklustre run for eighth in the Doncaster Mile.

Last seen working home well for third in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) on May 6^th, I Am A Star should prove tough to beat first-up and is likely-to-be the class runner of the Aurie’s Star Handicap field.

Lindsay Park is set to launch a multi-pronged attack in the feature race after including Cannyescent, Grande Rosso, Ruettiger and Snitzson in the Aurie’s Star Handicap field.

Cannyescent has found strong and consistent form this time in and is seeking a fourth-consecutive win in the Aurie’s Star Handicap and fifth from his last six starts.

Grande Rosso has not been seen at the races since March, but was a strong and consistent performer during his last preparation and is not without a chance of finishing in the first three on Saturday.

Ruettiger went amiss at his most-recent start, but is a live chance should he find the form he held prior to that race.

Snitzson flew home to finish third as a long-odds shot in the Australian Guineas most recently and is a proven first-up performer, having taken out the Highview ing Services Maiden (1300m) at the beginning of his summer campaign.

The 2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.

Open an and bet with Ladbrokes.com.au to take advantage of the best Aurie’s Star Handicap odds!

2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap Nominations

#	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	H Rating
1	31215560×3	BEATNIKS	M	7	Matthew Dale	92
2	0x280x344x	BRAVE SMASH (JPN)	H	5	Darren Weir	90
3	26×1516111	CANNYESCENT	G	5	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	93
4	01x0533x53	FLIPPANT	M	5	Peter & Paul Snowden	100
5	717121175x	GRANDE ROSSO	G	6	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	100
6	134x31196x	HEY DOC	G	4	Tony McEvoy	105
7	31x271183x	I AM A STAR (NZ)	M	4	Shane Nichols	107
8	4805×50689	JERSEY WHISTLER	G	8	Tara Cochrane	62
9	x2539x0925	KIRANI	G	7	Pat Hyland	76
10	15920×0926	LITTLE INDIAN	M	5	Robbie Laing	68
11	4x25x413x0	MANUEL	H	4	Tony McEvoy	65
12	x3189348x3	MURT THE FLIRT	G	6	Brendan McCarthy	88
13	9504530014	PLAY MASTER	G	9	Peter Smith	85
14	14x64x0339	RUETTIGER (NZ)	G	6	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	90
15	6x114173x	SNITZSON	H	4	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	94
16	911x63280x	WE’VE GOT THIS	G	6	Greg Eurell	97
17	587×842574	YESTERDAY’S SONGS	G	7	Michael Moroney	93