With the feature racing focus switching to Kembla Grange on Saturday and the running of the $1 million The Gong, one of the minor races on the card could provide a genuine highlight for local trainer Theresa Bateup.

Bateup made the trip to the 2018 Magic Millions Sales to buy one yearling and after parting with $50,000 she came home with The Guru.

That investment has returned nearly $280,000 for an enthusiastic group of owners and with six wins and 12 placings in 37 starts, the now six-year-old gelding will be aiming to notch another victory in the Elite Sand and Soil BM78 Handicap over 2000 metres having won the same event in 2021.

Winless in seven starts – although there are two second placings among them – The Guru returned to the winners’ list at Canterbury under lights over 1900 metres on 11 November with Brock Ryan aboard.

“He was just looking for (more) ground,” Bateup told Sky Sports Radio,

“His first-up run was quite good and he’s been in a couple of unsuitable races but the step up in distance the other night made the difference, and a brilliant ride by Brock.”

Starting at $41, The Guru slipped under most punters’ radars but he’s a $14 chance in TAB’s market for this event, and took a steep Racing & Sports ratings climb after finishing out of the placings in the Four Pillars (1500m) on October 29.

“He’s one of the stable favourites and he’s got a very vocal and enthusiastic bunch of owners,” Bateup added.

“I went to the Magic Millions specifically to buy him, came home with him and he’s done a brilliant job considering he won his maiden at a ‘TAB 2’ at the Sapphire Coast.”

Brock Ryan retains the ride on Saturday and can continue the trainer/jockey combination’s good record with the pairing tracking at a positive 20 per-cent return across 173 starters.

In an open market, the Chris Waller-trained Naval Seal heads the betting at $6.50 with Nautical Miss at $7 alongside Waller stablemate Smirk and the Matthew Smith-trained Colour Sergeant.