But his nomination has come with a bout of Irish weather, with Newcastle-based trainer Kris Lees tossing up whether to send the promising stayer to Sydney instead due to predicted heavy rain.

Lees will likely accept Mugatoo's nomination for Canberra Cup (2000 metres) on Thursday morning but is yet to make a decision on Mr Garcia and Attention Run.

The Irish-bred Mugatoo and Mr Garcia have also been nominated for Saturday's Randwick City Stakes (2000 metres), along with seven other Canberra Cup prospects.

"At this stage we'll be accepting Mugatoo for the Canberra Cup and maybe one other, we'll decide on Thursday morning," Lees said.

"We'll keep our options open, I'd prefer to run him on a firmer track."

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Mugatoo is unbeaten on Australian soil, winning a BenchMark 88 on his local debut in Randwick and a Benchmark 78 in Kensington.

Australian Bloodstock purchased the five-year-old gelding with the Melbourne Cup in mind and brought him to Newcastle in Spring.

He's an early favourite for the listed $250,000 Canberra Cup, which will be the highest grade in his racing career so far.

"We've been very pleased with everything he's done," Lees said.

"We went in both races confident he could win. It's a big jump in grade from where he has raced should he run in the Canberra Cup, but he certainly deserves the opportunity.

"He's come on with each win. He's heading in the right direction and we'll certainly know his level by testing him in this higher grade."

He could come up against Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar, who is nominated alongside Chris Waller stablemates Shared Ambition, Vaucluse Bay, Wu Gok, Norway, Eastender and Danzdanzdance.

Leading two-year-old horses will use the Black Opal Stakes as a path to the Golden Slipper, including Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa.

He's currently set to race in a Group 2 at Royal Randwick this Saturday, but if the race is bottomless he's a chance to come to Canberra.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt has been nominated alongside stablemates Larimer Street and Obligatory, but only the latter is expected to run.

"He's a big, strong and fast colt. We think he's a nice horse and would run a good race, but he's only going to have double-figure odds," Busuttin said.

"He ran very well first up at Kilmore Park, it was only a mid-week field but it was a good form race.

"He will have blinkers applied and appreciate a run under his belt. He'll run at big odds.

"The Black Opal is a suitable lead up to the Golden Slipper and it's a good stakes money race. If he won the it, it's a good springboard among stake money and longevity."

Canberra Racing Club will draw the barriers for the Black Opal Stakes and Canberra Cup at Thoroughbred Park on Thursday afternoon.