(ANDREW BENSLEY is a leading commentator with Sky Racing Channel)

If ever you doubted the quality of the thoroughbred racing in Australia, well, all I can say is, you're a hard task master.

On Saturday at Rosehill and Caulfield, some of the big names kick start spring campaigns. The outstanding early clash of the season is the Typhoon Tracy/Shoot Out battle in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

While many rival trainers believe Shoot Out is up and going too early, trainer John Wallace can't mask his elation about his horse. On Tuesday morning, Shoot Out worked on the viscoride track at Flemington, running home in quick time.

Wallace says he has no doubt Shoot Out goes into the Memsie a fitter horse and that may prove the match winner.

Typhoon Tracy should be proclaimed Australia's Racehorse of the Year for the 2009-2010 season but can she display her champion qualities first-up at 1400 metres?

Leading trainer, Peter Moody, reports he's trained Typhoon Tracy a little bit differently this campaign because the Cox Plate is the mare's major aim. Typhoon Tracy's jump outs and track gallops have been impressive, so it's a case of bring on the Memsie Stakes.

Other horses to watch from the Memsie from a Cup perspective are Zabrasive, Dariana, Valdemoro and Buccellati, bought as a yearling by clients of Tony Noonan six years ago in England but only now has he reached Australia.

Noonan told me Buccellati earned about $900,000 in prize money while racing in Europe. His biggest wins were at 2400 metres in two Group 3 races. The owners' aim, though, from the start was too run Buccellati in a Melbourne Cup (he's $101 in the All In TAB Fixed Odds market) and after a stint in Queensland, the seven-year-old has acclimatized well and is ready to race.

Noonan feels the Memsie's 1400 metres is going to be too short but he's hoping Buccellati will be doing his best work over the final stages.

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LET'S look at Saturday's other major race, the Group 1 Tooheys New Golden Rose at Rosehill.

While many may suggest this year's Golden Rose isn't as strong as previous years, try and win it.

The field of three-year-olds offers plenty for the spring and it throws up something different for Squamosa, a $9.50 chance with TAB Fixed Odds. The Waterhouse-trained horse has been able to jump and lead comfortably but, on Saturday, he has to contend with barrier 14.

On the other hand, Masquerader, Panipique and Hinchinbrook all are drawn ideally and should get perfect runs.

Hugh Bowman has dominated the Golden Rose in its short history and he's got an excellent chance of chalking up his fourth success aboard Masquerader.

Bowman got a feel of his Rose ride on Tuesday and gave trainer David Payne a glowing report.

Trainer Gerald Ryan admits Hinchinbrook may feel the pinch over the final 50-metres going first up to 1400-metres but the horse has worked so strongly, it's worth a crack at the million-dollar race.

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FINALLY, it was great to hear jockey Kerrin McEvoy on Sky Sports Radio on Thursday saying his back brace had come off three weeks ahead of schedule.

McEvoy's return from his bad fall in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford still is a fair way off but his progress is positive.