Boosted by Aeronautical's performance in the Newmarket Handicap, trainer Lionel Cohen is preparing to pit him against More Joyous and Pierro in the Canterbury Stakes.

The four-year-old is among nine horses entered to take on the Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemates in Saturday's Group One sprint.

Cohen surprised many when he sent Aeronautical to Melbourne for the $1 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and his horse surprised many more when he fought out the photo finish, ending up third behind Shamexpress and Moment Of Change.

It was Aeronautical's first foray into Group One company and it has whetted Cohen's appetite for more.

"I'll make a final decision after he works on Tuesday morning but I am keen to run," Cohen said.

"He's come back from Melbourne in good shape and is a happy horse.

"You don't know how good you are until you measure yourself against the best and I'm not afraid to run against Pierro and More Joyous.

"Two weeks ago I might have been but not now.

"I'm not sure about him at weight-for-age but this race over 1300 metres suits better than the following week in the Galaxy which is 1100 metres.

"We are looking at the Doncaster and this will tell us where we stand."

Cohen has booked Craig Williams for the ride replacing Darren Gauci who rode him in Melbourne.

The Peter Moody-trained Moment Of Change is also among the Canterbury Stakes entries along with his stablemates, Stradbroke Handicap winner Mid Summer Music, and Voila Ici who has not raced since he was unplaced in the Melbourne Cup.

Voila Ici is also an acceptor for Wednesday's Newmarket at Newcastle.

Group One winners Happy Trails, Secret Admirer and Solzhenitsyn are also entered with Fontelina and Rain Affair completing the line-up.