The 2017 Caulfield Cup is the confirmed major spring racing target for Australian Cup winner Humidor according to trainer Darren Weir.

Recording breaking Victorian horseman Weir has in the past 30 years saddled-up just the sole runner in a Caulfield Cup field.

He plans to change that this season chasing his first win in the $3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 with his progressive stayer Humidor.

The rising five-year-old is currently back in work stepping things up ahead of his return after a brilliant autumn campaign.

“He had his first little bit of a stride around the other morning,” Weir told Racing Victoria on Sunday.

“It was good. He had about five weeks off, I suppose. But he’s good. He had a good spell and I’m happy with where he’s at, at this stage.”

Formerly raced in New Zealand, the son of Teofilo joined Weir at Warrnambool last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

His Australian race debut produced a ninth to Le Romain at Flemington in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) on Victoria Derby Day.

Returning in late January, Humidor worked his way back up through the grades quickly before his career best performance defeating reigning Caulfield Cup winner Jameka in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).

He backed-up from his Group 1 triumph, which took his career earnings up over the $1.3 million mark, with a brave second when the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Jameka turned the tables in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 25.

That was Humidor’s first look at the 2400m distance and with Rosehill rated a Heavy (9) for the clash, the galloper failed to come within six and a half lengths of the mare.

Weir hopes that won’t be the case again in the spring with Humidor targeting the 2400m Caulfield Cup.

The bookies are currently taking no chances with Weir’s runner one of five equal $17 favourites in futures Caulfield Cup betting online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The other early fancies include Group 1 winning fillies Bonneval and Egg Tart who will both be four-year-old mares by Caulfield Cup Day, as Jameka was last season.

Makfi filly Bonneval is prepared across the Tasman by Kiwi trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman and was last seen winning Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) by four and a half lengths during ‘The Championships’.

Egg Tart is prepared by Sydney’s best Chris Waller, the Sebring filly having taken out the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2010m) – Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) interstate autumn double this season.

Rounding out the Caulfield Cup pre-nomination favourites are New Zealand-trained Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts and Godolphin’s always-honest performer Hartnell who ran third in the Melbourne Cup trifecta last spring.

The 2017 Caulfield Cup nominations close on August 29 along with those for the Melbourne Cup making now the time to back your early favourites at the best price through Ladbrokes.com.au.