Racing Victoria won't officially launch the Spring Racing Carnival until September 29, but the extravaganza starts long before that in the eyes of hardcore racing fans.

The first sign that the majors were just around the corner came with the Bletchingly Stakes in early August, then the first flotilla of Cups and Cox Plate contenders stepped out in the Liston Stakes. And, in the first true 'spring' meeting, we had Makybe Diva Stakes day on the first Saturday of September.

But the day that things go to another level is this Saturday, when Caulfield hosts the Underwood Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

They are the first Victorian Group 1s of the season, making the old Show Day raceday one of just three spring racedays outside Melbourne Cup week to host multiple Group 1s.

And with the stakes rising, the big names step up to the plate. That certainly rings true in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, a race Hall of Fame hoop Damien Oliver has made his own.

This year marks 20 years since an 18-year-old Oliver teamed with the Bart Cummings-trained Submariner to post his maiden Group 1 win not long after having his indentures transferred from his native Western Australia.

He's since won the event that has been run under a myriad of names, including the Invitation Stakes, Marlboro Cup, Show Day Cup, VicHealth Cup and Dubai Racing Club Cup, a further five times.

His most recent success was aboard Orange County two years ago (pictured above), while he's also scored with Mr Murphy (2001), Testa Rossa (1999), Poetic King (1994) and Mannerism (1992).

Oliver's record means his mount, Gold Salute, will have supporters on Saturday, despite the veteran needing to emulate 1997 winner Cut Up Rough as the only horse older than six to win the 1400m handicap in the past 20 years.

The Mark Riley-trained gelding, who was controversially declared a non-runner in last year's Sir Rupert Clarke after being denied a fair start, comes off a first-up sixth at Caulfield on August 21.

But it is the Bobbie Lewis Quality two weeks before the Sir Rupert Clarke that has proven the best recent guide.

The 1200m sprint up the Flemington straight has supplied the past three Sir Rupert Clarke winners: Bon Hoffa, Orange County and Turffontein.

That will be music to the ears of fans of topweight and likely favourite, Doubtful Jack, who smashed his rivals in this year's Bobbie Lewis.

Runner-up Beltrois and the untapped Mark Kavanagh-trained entire We're Gonna Rock (eighth) are the only others who contested the Bobbie Lewis running at Caulfield this weekend.

Taking that into account, Saturday's other elite-level event shapes as Oliver's best chance of adding to his Group 1 tally with the gun rider to partner Heart Of Dreams.

The Mick Price-trained gelding, who won last year's edition with Craig Newitt in the saddle, will be out to improve the impressive record of past winners in the 1800m event.

Twelve times the race originally known as the Williamstown Cup has been won more than once, although Northerly (2001 and 2002) is the only dual winner in the past four decades.

What Heart Of Dreams does take into this year's race, however, is the formline that has proven the blueprint for Underwood success.

Seven of the past 10 Underwood winners have had their previous start in the Makybe Diva Stakes, a race Heart Of Dreams ran sixth in prior to claiming last year's Underwood.

Proof that he's going at least as well this time around came two Saturdays ago when he beat home all bar Flemington specialist Shocking in this year's Makybe Diva.

The defending Melbourne Cup champion will again be one of Heart Of Dreams' rivals this weekend, when he will be shooting to become the 11th horse to complete the Makybe Diva-Underwood double.

But one significant obstacle stands between Shocking, Heart Of Dreams and the three other Underwood starters who contested the Makybe Diva - Master O'Reilly, Zavite and Red Ruler - ruling Cox Plate favourite So You Think.

The star four-year-old will step out for the first time since his first-up Memsie Stakes win, therefore hoping to emulate El Segundo who, in 2006, completed that double at his first two runs back from a spell.

Weekend Hussler has since won both the Memsie and the Underwood to join Rubiton, Ajax and Phar Lap among those who have led to the double being completed 15 times.

So You Think's grip on Cox Plate favouritism will become vice-like if he wins the Underwood.

It's been an outstanding guide to the Cox Plate with the double achieved 14 times by the likes of Northerly (twice), Almaarad, Rubiton, Bonecrusher, Ajax and Phar Lap.

There is also an even-money chance the Caulfield Cup winner will be in the Underwood with half of the past 20 winners of the Melbourne Racing Club's signature event coming via Saturday's race.

Four of the other 10 Caulfield Cup winners in that time have also been involved in races at Caulfield on Underwood Stakes day.

Mannerism won the Sir Rupert Clarke (when it was the VicHealth Cup), Let's Elope and Arctic Scent both contested mares' races, while Tawqeet ran fifth in the Naturalism Stakes.

This year's Naturalism will have a big bearing on the Caulfield Cup with current favourite Moudre and highly-fancied contenders including Linton, Mr Charlie and Fanjura also chasing the ballot exemption that accompanies victory.

(Brad Bishop is an award-winning writer in both equine codes. He has also worked in the media unit at both Racing Victoria Ltd and Harness Racing Victoria).