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Last season’s top candidate for the three-year-old of the year title Alpine Wolf makes his long-awaited return to racing in Launceston on Sunday.

In Brief

• Last season's top 3YO of the year candidate ready to fire first-up.
• Trip to Flemington on the cards for Alpine Wolf after Launceston event.
• Music Addition to test the former top three-year-old.

Alpine Wolf captured the $100,000 Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) and Launceston Guineas (2100m) last season but missed the Tasmanian Derby because he was diagnosed with bone chips in his knee.

An arthroscopy produced a great result, and his two trials suggest the gelded son of Alpine Eagle is ready to rumble in the Marjorie Fitzpatrick Memorial Open Handicap over 1220 metres on Sunday.

The Barry Campbell-trained four-year-old won both trials with the latest last Tuesday over 800 metres that he won convincingly from stablemates Le Cadeau and Azara.

Campbell also had the horse nominated for a race at Monee Valley on Saturday but opted to stay at home, but there is a race at Flemington in three weeks that Campbell is looking at as his best option for the Alpine Eagle gelding's subsequent outing.

"I'm happy with Alpine Wolf's trial on Tuesday, but he is up against Music Addition that has been impressive this prep and he will have match fitness on his side," Campbell said.

"But that's not to say Alpine Wolf can't win because he is a very good horse."

Music Addition has won four of his past five starts in Tasmania for Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson, the last three in succession.

Stevenson admits this will be his horse's toughest test this preparation.

"My horse is in good order, although the day I took him for a gallop the weather was so bad we ended up having to stop working them (horses), but I got his gallop in and he worked enormous," Stevenson said.

"It is a good race, and it will all come down to how the track plays out because patterns emerged the last time, we raced there with the rail out 11 metres.

"Other than for a heavy track, my horse will manage the conditions if we do get a bit of rain and I would expect him to be ridden near the speed either outside the leader or one-out-one-back."

The Imogen Miller-trained Algernon will miss the race and head to Moonee Valley on Saturday for a benchmark 84 handicap over 1200 metres (race nine).

Algernon's first start this preparation was at Caulfield in which he finished a creditable fifth and this looks an ideal race for him on Saturday as he has drawn well in gate three and he will carry 56.5kg with Michael Dee in the saddle.