Craig Widdison, the trainer operating from the border, relies on gained race know-how to benefit Jarbardar at Caulfield.

After notching a first-up win at Wagga last month, the two-year-old is entered in Saturday’s Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1100m).

An entry also existed for the gelding in Morphettville’s Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) this weekend, yet Caulfield held priority.

“The better draw and shorter trip certainly made up our mind, but the preference was Caulfield all along,” Widdison said.

“With a two-year-old, it’s a long way to go from here in Wodonga and the barrier made the decision pretty easy for us.”

Jarbardar crossed from Wodonga to Wagga for debut duties, backed into $1.35 favoritism.

Such support for the gelding held no surprises for Widdison.

“He’s done everything right and he’s a nice type of horse and his trial at Corowa was really good beforehand,” Widdison said.

“He ran faster time than the open trial that day.

He was still very new doing it all, but the time was there and we thought he would be pretty hard to beat at Wagga.”

Two from three public efforts came on right-handers, but the trainer confirms Jarbardar’s comfort on left-handed tracks.

Wodonga base means predominantly left-handed work for the gelding, with adaptability to either.

More will be revealed about Jarbardar after Saturday, whom Widdison rates highly among juveniles since his 2016 Wodonga arrival.

“He shows great ability here, as much as any young horse I’ve had up here, and now he’s got to take that step to city grade,” Widdison said.

“We’ll learn a lot more about him after Saturday as there has been a fair few that have trialled well.

It’s always hard when you go down the line, but he’s exciting for us, anyway.”

The debut-winning ride goes to Jason Lyon again for Jarbardar.

Metro trips are rare for Lyon, with 10 in five years at $31+ prices.

Widdison appreciates Lyon’s stable rides and clean Wagga job.

“Going down there, it’s nice to have someone on that knows the horse,” Widdison said.

“He can be a bit of lad, the horse, so any little help is a bonus.”

At $7, Jarbardar is next in line behind $2.40 hotpot Natural Fling, a first-starter for Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

Visit betting sites to find the keenest racing odds for the Sportsbet Feed Handicap at Caulfield.