Trainer John Moloney is banking on local knowledge proving beneficial for Fine Dane in the VOBIS Gold Dash at Caulfield.
Moloney set his sights on Saturday’s 1100m-sprint for three-year-olds after Fine Dane’s last-start fourth at Moonee Valley over 1200m last month.
At his only appearance at Caulfield, Fine Dane finished third behind recently retired Written By and Adelaide sprinter Gytrash, who returned with a first-up win at Morphettville.
“It’s his home track and it should be an advantage so let’s hope he can run up to that form again,” Moloney said.
“It’s a set weights race and it’s worth getting after and we gave him the freshen-up after his last run with the intention of aiming at this race.
“It’s been five weeks between runs and the horse had a jump-out last week and he went well in that.
“We’re pretty happy with his condition and the shape of him.”
Moloney sees Saturday’s distance as being ideal, especially from the inside draw.
“We’ll hopefully sit behind the speed but we won’t want to be getting too far off them,” Moloney said.
“I think it’s a good distance for him. He over-raced at the 1200 metres at the Valley last start.”
Moloney will be guided by Fine Dane’s performance on Saturday before deciding on the gelding’s immediate future.
He said a trip interstate could be on the cards.
“The (Group Two) Euclase in Adelaide is only a week away and is that too soon? I don’t know,” Moloney said.
“We’ll see how he runs and I’ll know a bit more after that, but we’ve been eyeing this race off for a while and if he goes well then we can open our eyes up a bit if we have to.”