The respect Rowley Mile bookmakers are showing for Mr Chard has been more than matched by trainer Tony McEvoy’s regard for the comeback galloper.

Mr Chard will be having his third run after being off the scene for more than 70 weeks because of a suspensory injury when he lines up in the $100,000 Listed race at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

But on the strength of a narrow defeat behind Tiger Tees in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington, Mr Chard was sharing top billing for the Rowley Mile with Destiny’s Kiss and I’m Imposing.

“I’m very proud of the horse for the way he has come back and found form,” McEvoy said.

“I said to the owners that because he had such a long time off he was going to need a couple of sprint races which were over unsuitable distances.

“This is the first race this preparation, in my opinion, that he has been suited in.”

McEvoy, who has a NSW satellite stable set-up at Hawkesbury, is no stranger to winning feature races at the provincial racetrack.

He trained Mouro to win the Rowley Mile when it was run in a different part of the racing season in 2012-13.

Hawkesbury officials reported 3mm of overnight rain, bringing the total to 65mm for the seven days up to Wednesday.

They have issued a track rating just into the heavy range with the best going expected to be away from the rails.

Of the 12 Rowley Mile acceptors, none will create more interest than the appearance of La Amistad, a close relation to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.

La Amistad is resuming from a short break following a sequence of wins through a late autumn campaign including a four-length victory in the WJ McKell Cup at Randwick.

She occupies the third line of Melbourne Cup betting as a $17 chance and bookmakers have her at $6 to win at a distance less than 2100m for the first time in the Rowley Mile.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has accepted with four runners – Brigantin, Coup Ay Tee, I’m Imposing and Tougher Than Ever.