Promising galloper Taunting will have to overcome an inside gate and big weight second-up from a spell at Morphettville on Saturday.
Taunting scored an impressive win when resuming and top trainer Michael Hickmott said the horse had done everything he’d asked for since.
“He’s got plenty of weight but just how barrier one plays after 10 races will be interesting,’’ Hickmott said.
“In saying that, the horse has trained on well.
“There’s plenty of meat left on the bone and he’s a long way from his top, but we’re going there expecting him to run well again,’’ he said.
Hickmott said he was being guided by Taunting as to where they go through the spring and would get a much better idea after Saturday.
“We’re just going to take him through the grades,’’ Hickmott said.
“If he came out won impressively on Saturday could look at the Wylie on the minimum, but like a lot of nice horses at this time of year the end game is getting him Flemington in (Melbourne) Cup week on some sort of level,’’ he said.
Hickmott is also eyeing a hometown Murry Bridge Cup with comeback galloper Lord Vladivostok.
The former New Zealander, who won the R A Lee Stakes in 2021 before chasing home Regalo Di Gaetano in last year’s feature, took a significant step towards his return to racing in a gallop between races at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.
“He’ll probably kick off next Saturday, we’re pretty restricted where he can run,’’ Hickmott said.
“The Wylie the week after is far too short for him. He’ll be ring rusty and I imagine he’ll have another run in between before heading to the Murray Bridge Cup.
“He’s got a fair way to go,’’ he said.