It doesn't matter if one is an owner, trainer, jockey or strapper - the goal is to have horses compete during Melbourne's 51-day, $41million spring carnival, says trainer Pat Hyland.

Hyland-trained dual group1 winning mare Zarita will miss this week's WS Cox Plate despite taking fourth place in the same race last year.

Zarita will now tackle group1 fields in either the Myer Classic or the McKinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 5 in her spring racing swansong.

"Spring is the pinnacle, it's like going to the grand final for football."

Hyland attributes spring racing's success to clever promotion and great races.

"The crowds are bigger, the races are better. You'd have to say racing is handled better from a promotional point of view in Melbourne."

Hyland expects racing royalty Bart Cummings and Lee Freedman to figure prominently this spring, but he's sure there'll be some fairytales to match.

"It's the nature of the industry we're in, everyone's got a chance."