Despite the suboptimal barrier, trainer Clayton Douglas intends to travel to Adelaide with newcomer Mr Waterville.
Previously trained by Chris Waller after arriving from Ireland, the galloper lines up in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville this coming Saturday.
Saturday’s race serves Douglas as the ultimate tune-up for the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville scheduled for March 9.
In Saturday’s lineup, Mr Waterville has barrier 19, the widest, and the trainer indicated this outing is essential for the gelding’s path to the Adelaide Cup.
“Drawing 19 is not ideal but he’ll be in the middle to back-half of the field anyway and the 2600 (metres) should be ideal,” Douglas said.
“It’s a stepping stone to hopefully starting in the Adelaide Cup and he needs this grounding run to head there.
“The set-weights and penalties on Saturday makes it a suitable race.”
Douglas pointed out that another viable prep race for Mr Waterville ahead of the Adelaide Cup was the 2500m affair won by Berkeley Square at Flemington last Saturday, while the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Pakenham is only three days away.
Under Douglas for the first time, Mr Waterville achieved a closing third in the Colac Cup (2000m) on February 6.
From his Irish beginnings with Aidan O’Brien, where he notched two wins in seven starts, Mr Waterville endured a barren spell of 20 races without success for Waller, who continues as a part-owner of the gelding.
Douglas revealed Waller proposed seeking a fresh environment for the horse, leading to his transfer via Rod Lyons, owner of Nature Strip, into the current stable.
“He’s done some schooling down here and that seems to have helped,” Douglas said.
“Maybe if he doesn’t perform well in his next couple of flat runs, we might see him in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool during the carnival.”
Mr Waterville is entered for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11.
Punters looking for value in the Lord Reims Stakes should review the leading betting sites and their racing odds.