Mark Zahra is renowned for his success in Group 1 races, but he will need to produce something special when he rides Ostraka in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Ostraka faces a tough challenge with barrier 17 in the 17-horse field, aiming to win the race first-up at his debut in Victoria.

Trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Ostraka has been in Melbourne for the past few weeks, preparing for his first Group 1 race. After a trial in Sydney on January 30, he finished second to I Wish I Win in a 1000m jump-out at Pakenham on February 11.

As part of his lead-up, Ostraka also had a familiarisation gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday.

“He wasn’t out to break any records but had a nice bowl around and looked comfortable,” Archibald said. “The track is tricky for horses new to it, but it was a great opportunity for Mark to get another feel of Ostraka before Saturday.”

Archibald is confident Ostraka has returned in good condition, though the race will be the true test.

“We can’t wait to see him race on Saturday. He’s ticked every box, and we think this is the right race for him at Group 1 level under handicap conditions.”

Following his performance in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill last November, Archibald plans to focus on shorter races for Ostraka this campaign.

“We’ll keep him sharper this time around and take it race by race,” Archibald said.