Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra’s Standish Handicap winner Durendal has been accepted for Tuesday’s John Dillion Stakes 2016 field at Caulfield Racecourse despite also being in the mix for this weekend’s Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Standish Handicap winner Durendal is accepted for both the 2016 Australia Stakes on Saturday and the John Dillion Stakes on Tuesday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The progressive Medaglia D’Oro four-year-old made it three wins on the trot on New Year’s Day at Flemington winning the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m).

That was his first Group race assignment and he is currently paying $6 through Ladbrokes.com.au to keep the good form going on Saturday in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).

Despite his short price and Australia Stakes acceptances, connections also have him in the field for the $120,000 Listed John Dillion Stakes (1400m) on Australia Day.

Durendal is drawn the rails for the January 26 black-type with Damian Lane on standby for the ride, Lane also scheduled for the Australia Stakes ride this weekend at the opening Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival meeting.

Heading the John Dillion Stakes field and weights with 60kg is the Archie Alexander-trained Amorino drawn in barrier three with champion hoop Craig Williams to ride.

The Snitzel six-year-old shoots for his first win since the Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) at the same track and distance last April and hasn’t raced since his 11^th to Stratum Star in a tight edition of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last September.

Durendal (57.5kg) is the next heaviest weighted in the race followed by Tried And Tired (56.5kg) and British General (55kg).

The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Tried And Tired has been in standout form over the summer including his second to Tudor in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last weekend carrying 58.5kg.

He drops two kilos for the John Dillion, is drawn in barrier seven for jockey Mark Zahra and has a strong 1400m record (12-3-4-1).

British General is also drawn nicely in the handicap clash with barrier two for Glen Boss, the Dan O’Sullivan-trained eight-year-old coming off a third over the mile at Caulfield from earlier in the month against an easier class of rivals.

The horse that beat Tried And Tired home by a half-length to win the Chester Manifold, Tudor is also accepted to keep the good times going in the John Dillion next week.

Jumping from gate eight on the 54kg minimum weight, Doug Harrison’s Strategic four-year-old had the same weight in the Chester but is yet to run top three from six runs at the Caulfield track.

Another last-start winner in the is Mick Price’s Magnus four-year-old Duke Of Brunswick who defeated Nicoscene by nearly two lengths over 1200m at the track on January 9; runner-up Nicoscene is also accepted for Tuesday’s rematch for Lee & Anthony Freedman.

Price has also accepted for Host six-year-old Mighty Like who comes off a fifth in the same Benchmark 90 lead-up won by the stablemate.

Other noteworthy acceptors include Gold Coast Magic Millions Cup third placegetter Baligari from Adelaide and Durendal’s stablemate Whistle Bay coming off a second over 1400m at Flemington from January 16 who drops from 60kg to 54kg.

Check out the full John Dillion Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and weights below then visit Ladbrokes.com.au for all the top Australia Day racing odds and betting options!

2016 John Dillion Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 7 (4:50pm) – 26/01/2016