The seven-year-old will line up for a 1200 metre benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange, with his trainer confident the gelding can salute on his home track.

Virgilio will line up alongside a number of talented three-year-olds, with Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Conscript and Gary Portelli's Long Weekend currently on the top line of betting.

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Entering the race on the back of a third-place finish in the Panorama in Bathurst, Parker is confident the veteran will be able to match it with his younger rivals.

"He's been racing well enough to win another one," Parker said. "It will be nice to get over the line. His run in Bathurst was super, hopefully he can win another one and we'll keep him ticking along.

"He'll go forward, put himself in a good position and hopefully he holds on."

Virgilio's half-sister Genoveffa will also line up on Thursday, the six-year-old to contest a 1200m fillies and mares benchmark 64.

First up after a lengthy break, Parker is simply looking to see his runner make a promising start to the new campaign.

"Genoveffa is first up, she usually gets better form over a bit further, but this is a nice starting point for her.

"If she's hitting the line nicely and has a lovely first up race and says she's back, we'll keep her ticking along and let her keep racing."

Thursday will also see Gwenda Markwell's talented filly Either Oar line up for a 1000m class one.

Despite featuring just four horses, the race boasts a quality field, with Mark Newnham's Zanzidance and Terry Robinson's Art Cadeau the early favourites.

Either Oar got the better of Zanzidance in April, the pair finishing fifth and sixth respectively in a maiden that was won by Peltzer. Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Anders was second.

Newnham will also have a keen eye on Mission Legend in a 1000m maiden, the gelding edged out by Either Oar in Newcastle earlier this month.