Asterius claimed a close victory over stablemate Mr Reckless at Rosehill on Saturday and Waller had options for where to run him next.

Rather than sending him to Melbourne to race on Stakes Day, Waller told reporters on Saturday the gelding will instead contest The Gong on November 23.

"He's entered for the greys race at Flemington but he will go to The Gong in three weeks," Waller said.

"It's a million dollar race over 1600 metres in three weeks which suits.

"He likes his races three weeks apart and is a horse I think might get to the Villiers in December."

Asterius joins Happy Clapper as a likely starter in the inaugural edition of the 1600m handicap race, with Pat Webster declaring his group one-winning horse will also head to Kembla Grange.

Read more: Silent General salutes at Kembla Grange

Gwenda Markwell's Archedemus will likely lead the charge for the local horses, while Robert and Luke Price are targeting Cuban Royale and Eugene's Pick at the million-dollar race.

Eugene's Pick had initially been nominated to race at Randwick on Tuesday, however she was scratched from the 1550m race.

The mare is nominated for two races at Rosehill on Saturday, benchmark 78s over 1400m and 1800m.

Cuban Royale has also been nominated for that same 1400m race in Sydney and is coming off a quality fourth-place at Randwick on October 26.

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