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The Mornington Guineas will be the first-up run of South Australian Derby bound Jungle Magnate.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr learned a lot from the spring campaign of Jungle Magnate who makes his autumn return at Mornington. 

The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May is the focus for Jungle Magnate who makes his return in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. 

Kent Jnr said the trainers learned early on that Jungle Magnate wanted ground and were forced into a rushed preparation to get him to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in the spring. 

After a 1400m race at Sandown to open his three-year-old spring campaign, Price and Kent Jnr realised the son of Tarzino was looking for a trip. 

"We brought him back for the spring off a freshen with the view of going to a mile," Kent Jnr said. 

"But then we quickly realised we had him wrong, he wanted a trip, and so we rushed him to the Derby. 

"He went to Adelaide to place in the Hill-Smith Stakes, he was huge in the Vase at The Valley and then had a week back-up into the Derby. 

"He didn't have the miles in his legs, but this prep is totally different. He had a good spell, a long build-up, he's had three trials, two over 1400 metres. 

"I'm not sure a mile at Mornington is his track but he's going super and is being set for the South Australian Derby fourth-up. 

"He's got a much better foundation under him this time in." 

Kent Jnr said the Group 3 Chairman's Stakes (2020m) at Morphettville two weeks prior to the South Australian Derby in May was locked in but was not sure where Jungle Magnate would run second-up. 

"He can run a cheeky race on Saturday and as long as he's hitting the line, I'll be happy," Kent Jnr said. 

"We'll see how he runs on Saturday and then we can work out where he heads."