Outstanding Group 2 Shirley Turnbull Memorial field assembled at Bathurst Paceway

You can certainly make a case for it.

Thursday night's Group 2 staying event (2,790 metres) will bring some of Australasia's modern harness racing legends to Bathurst Paceway as they vie for the biggest share of the $50,000 prize.

Last year's Inter Dominion champion Tiger Tara will be running, as will home trainer Chris Frisby's Our Uncle Sam, who finished runner-up to Kevin Pizzuto's runner in that final.

Craig Cross fields three runners for the event, and of that group most eyes will be fixed upon the dangerous and in-form Alta Orlando.

But perhaps commanding more attention than all will be Australasian mile rate record holder and Miracle Mile champion My Field Marshal.

Tim Butt's superstar made his long awaited return to racing just a fortnight ago after a heart scare during his attempted Miracle Mile defence in March.

A year after setting the Australian pacing community into shock with his record 2018 Miracle Mile time of 1:46.9 he gave everyone a shock of a different kind when he pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia.

The Butt stable took its time to check everything was in order before sending My Field Marshal out for his return on December 14, where an excellent turn of foot carried him to a runner-up finish.

He looked as strong as ever in the run, an encouraging sign ahead of what is likely to be his last season of racing.

"It was his first run for a long time and I was very pleased with it," Butt said.

"It was a bit of wear and tear and he's had two wind operations as a young horse so I've had to look after him a bit. He's ready to go forward now and finish his career.

"He'll round things off I'd say over the next 12 months if all goes well."

The Shirley Turnbull Memorial is a crucial stepping stone for Butt and My Field Marshal as they take aim at the $300,000 Fremantle Pacing Cup.

As the top rated runner in Thursday's race My Field Marshal will start from widest on the back row.

"This is a good race with a good stake on a nice track so we're really looking forward to it," Butt said.

"It's a strong field, as this race often is, and there's some really strong free for all horses around at the moment."

Bathurst Harness Racing CEO Danny Dwyer said racegoers should be excited for a race crammed with high quality horses.

"It brings together one of the strongest fields we've ever had, if not then it's the strongest we've had for quite a number of years," he said.

"There were enough in the nominations for us to run a $20,000 consolation as well so that shows the quality of the nominations we've received.

"Considering how good the track is there's no issue for the big trainers coming over the mountains to race here."

Racing starts from 6.05pm with the memorial running at 8.45pm.