Seasoned quick Way To The Stars heads back to his native state after more than 12 months interstate, tackling Hawkesbury with trainer Matt Smith forecasting a competitive effort.
As a two-time Listed winner, the gelding encountered fair issues in recent runs, drawing wide in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) with no luck, then struggling on the soft Flemington surface last occasion.
The Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m) offers his ideal firm footing, and Smith highlights barrier three as a bonus for the 14-horse lineup.
“We had no hope in the Oakleigh Plate from the outside gate. We probably should have scratched,” Smith said.
“And then we ran on a track that was wet in Melbourne, and he didn’t like that at all.
“I think he is back to his best. He’s a horse that needs to get his first 400 right, and if he can get that right, he can be competitive.”
With five weeks off and a trial under his belt, Way To The Stars is primed for Saturday.
Smith rates Nash Rawiller’s mount highly in this wide-open affair.
“He’s been up at the farm for a few weeks and has done a bit of work on the sand. He had that trial and he’s good to go. He’s fresh, fit, well,” he said.
“It’s a good race. There are plenty of chances in it, and he’s one of them.”
Barnmate World Alliance is on standby for a Hawkesbury Gold Rush berth pending more scratches, and entry would see him as a threat.
Three-from-four first-up wins, track and distance suitability, plus draw four next to Way To The Stars enhance his claims for the six-year-old.
“If he gets the right set-up, he is always dangerous,” Smith said.
“He needs tempo, which he’ll get here.
“He’s fit, and he’s well and I can’t fault him. His work was sharp on Tuesday morning so he’s ready to go.”
Promising gelding Golden Straand gets Smith’s backing to keep climbing in the Blake’s Marine Handicap (1100m), after a fresh win at Warwick Farm took him to four successes from nine starts.
“He’s a really good horse. He could be in that stakes race, but he’s going through his grades,” Smith said.
“He’ll be very hard to beat in that race.
“He could end up in Queensland, for sure. The only thing with him is he needs good ground. His only blemish was on a wet track at Randwick, and he didn’t go on that at all.”
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