After the early frustration Gavin Bedggood endured with Hedged at the start of the gelding’s campaign, the Cranbourne trainer is understandably cautious about overdoing things now that the sprinter has found winning form.

Hedged delivered his first victory for Bedggood – and his first win in 18 months – when he enjoyed clear running throughout to claim a convincing victory in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Boxing Day.

The breakthrough success came at the gelding’s fifth start for the stable after a series of luckless performances, and he is expected to back up again in Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

While Bedggood is aware the son of Capitalist will require a spell at some stage, he is pleased with the routine they have landed on and feels the horse can comfortably handle another run.

“We sent him down the beach post-Cranbourne for a week and he thrived off that,” Bedggood said.

“We’ve just tried to replicate that. Monday morning (after Sandown) he got on the float and he came home on Friday.

“He’s very fit now, so we don’t have to do much with him. It’s just one little pipe-opener in between runs just to clean his wind up and that seems to be working well.

“As soon as we’re not happy with him he’ll go for a break – you can’t keep going forever – but while he looks well and he’s doing well in the stable we’ll keep him going.”

Saturday’s $200,000 feature will mark Hedged’s first Flemington appearance since last spring’s Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m), where he was held up at a vital stage before charging late to finish runner-up behind Caballus.

His only other runs down the famous straight resulted in a win in a three-year-old handicap and a fifth placing in the Sunlight Classic, won by Estriella, both over 1100 metres.

“I wouldn’t think the straight holds any concerns,” Bedggood said.

“I thought Harry (Coffey) executed the ride really well last start and understood the horse well and found a happy medium with him.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how they pair up again and hopefully we can continue the association.”

Hedged was one of 16 nominations for the Standish Handicap, with Maharba and Aviatress among the key dangers.

The post Hedged to go again in Standish Handicap first appeared on Just Horse Racing.