Top Victorian jockey Mark Zahra is booked to ride Kissonallforcheeks after a decision by trainer Dan Morton to start the classy Perth mare in Melbourne instead of Sydney on Saturday.

WA-born Zahra won the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes on Daumier and booted Tofane to a $750,000 CF Orr Stakes victory when landing Caulfield Group 1 double glory last month.

Kissonallforcheeks was entered for a Sydney barrier trial on Tuesday and she is among nominations in Saturday’s Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.

However, Morton has decided the four-year-old will be a Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) starter at Flemington on Saturday.

She is thriving in Melbourne after a flight from Perth last Wednesday.

“In view of NSW rain, I’m wary of taking her to Rosehill and striking a heavy track,” Morton said on Monday.

“Mark Zahra was impressed when he rode her in a good gallop on Saturday morning and he accepted an engagement for the Shaftesbury Avenue. He’ll work her again tomorrow.”

Kissonallforcheeks is likely to be strongly fancied at her interstate debut, on the strength of Ascot Group 1 placings in the Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Classic last year.

“We’re still planning on going to Sydney, for the Emancipation Stakes and next month’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes,” Morton said.

Trainer Neville Parnham will consider an Adelaide autumn mission with last year’s Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap runner-up Indian Pacific. He was entered in a Lark Hill trial on Tuesday and Saturday’s $1.5 million Newmarket at Flemington.

“Indian Pacific will have a let-up instead of trialling this week and racing,” Parnham said on Monday.

“There’s chance he could go to Adelaide for the Goodwood in May, or stay here to tackle the Northam Stakes and Roma Cup.”

Parnham will start last season’s Perth Cup winner Neufbosc in the Autumn Cup at Pinjarra on March 20 and next month’s Pinjarra Cup.

He has Snowdome, to resume in Saturday week’s Perth Stakes, and Torpedoman aimed at the $500,000 Karrakatta Plate on April 2.

Arcadia Gem added for Saturday

Owners Bob and Sandra Peters will add promising filly Arcadia Gem to their runners in Saturday’s Natasha Stakes, a lead-up to the WA Oaks.

Arcadia Gem, a fast-finishing third at Pinjarra last month, is a half-sister to $3.9 million stake-earner Arcadia Queen.

“We’ll have Fine Romance, Mrs America and Arcadia Gem in the Natasha,” Bob Peters said on Monday.

“Each of the fillies is doing well.”

Fine Romance and Mrs America have raced in feature events, but Arcadia Gem has not started outside maiden company.

Trainer Adam Durrant has engaged Clint Johnston-Porter to take over riding last-start winner Constant Dreaming in the Natasha.

WATC Derby favourite Trix Of The Trade is pleasing trainer Colin Webster ahead of contesting Saturday’s JC Roberts Stakes (1800m). Webster is not concerned the gelding raced keenly when winning over 1600m last start.

“He’s doing everything right and I expect him to settle better,” Webster said on Monday.

“A distance increase should be ideal for him.”