A restricted race at Canterbury on Wednesday will be a watershed in Zuccotto's autumn campaign.

Trainer Guy Walter has used the equivalent of Wednesday's 1900m benchmark 70 as a guide in the past with Republic Lass in 2002 and Wild Iris two years later both winning before going on to claim the Adrian Knox Stakes and the Australian Oaks at their next two starts.

Walter thought enough of Zuccotto to aim her at the VRC Oaks in the spring but she finished worse than midfield after striking interference at the start.

Her past three runs haven't produced the results needed to convince Walter she can measure up to the Australian Oaks on April 20 although she did make ground over the final stages in a 1600m race at Goulburn last Friday week.

"This is an important race for her," Walter said.

"It will be her second time in blinkers.

"She is a talented filly and she did have a couple of setbacks in the spring before the Oaks so we're hoping to see improvement tomorrow."

Zuccotto is by Quest For Fame out of La Zabaglione, a Zabeel half-sister to 13-time Group One winner Tie The Knot who Walter trained for the Tait family.

Kathy O'Hara will wear the Taits' famous red and white silks on Zuccotto at Canterbury.

The meeting will also mark the first city appearance of Zuccotto's unbeaten stablemate Alcaraz who races over 1250 metres in a benchmark 75.

The five-year-old suffered a tendon injury after his first start in August 2010 in a Gosford maiden.

He spent more than two years off the scene but showed he had lost none of his ability when he returned to win a class 2 at Goulburn in February.

The five-year-old returned to Gosford on March 11 with the same result to earn a start in town.

"He had a tendon injury but has come back really well," Walter said.

"We will just take it one race at time with him."