Osipenko may not have delivered on the lofty expectations early in his career, but the Chris Waller stable remains optimistic that the gelding can return to his best, starting with Saturday’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

The son of Pierro signalled serious ability as a three-year-old when storming home for third in the 2022 Caulfield Guineas, despite a tough run from a wide gate. He backed it up with a win in the Hobartville Stakes, but his Randwick Guineas campaign was halted by a race day scratching due to an elevated temperature.

He later finished sixth behind Mr Brightside in the Doncaster Mile and had a solid but winless spring before being gelded following a flat effort in the 2023 edition of The Ingham.

“He ran third in a Caulfield Guineas and that’s the horse we thought he was,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “Then for whatever reason… it took forever and a day to get him back into form.”

Osipenko showed signs of life over summer, winning the Listed January Cup (2000m), and returned with a sharp performance behind Jimmystar in the All Aged Stakes last month.

With three of his four career wins coming on soft or heavy tracks, Saturday’s conditions could be ideal.

“He was brilliant first-up. I think he is right back to where we thought he was as a three-year-old,” Duckworth added.

A strong showing in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup could book his ticket to Queensland, with the Doomben Cup on the radar. Waller will also saddle Mare Of Mt Buller, with both horses rated $10, behind $3.60 favourite Punch Lane at betting sites.