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Star jockey Damien Lane will partner smart South Australian galloper Taunting when he makes his Melbourne return over the 955m at Moonee Valley tonight.

It will be the second time Taunting has seen Moonee Valley after he was heavily backed there at his Melbourne debut last season.

The son of Brazen Beau hasn't raced since he was run down after setting a hectic tempo in the Listed W H Wylie Stakes at Morphettville and has drawn perfectly in barrier three.

It's a busy night for South Australians, led by the return of Behemoth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle have thrown Hallstatt in the deep end over 1000m.

"It looks a hot race for Hallstatt, but he's a progressive young horse and there wasn't a lot of options for him here so we thought we'd have a crack,'' Richards said.

Craving for luck having finished second in five of his past 10 starts, Balfour will have Melbourne Cup winning rider Jye Mcneil in the saddle.

Mount Gambier trainer Belinda O'Loughlin has last-start Hamilton Cup winner engaged in the opening race with Dean Holland booked to ride, while Will Clarken has last Friday's Murray Bridge Gold Cup winner at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day with Jamie Kah booked to ride from barrier two.