Lightly raced Queensland galloper Uncommon James is expected to be Melbourne bound for some early races ahead of the spring carnival heating up.
A winner of four of his five starts for Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, Uncommon James is being aimed at the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 13 wityh a second Melbourne start planned for the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on September 3.
Uncommon James extended his winning streak to four when successful in the Darby McCarthy (1110m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Hoysted, who is a member of the large family based at Wangaratta, said it would be good to test Uncommon James in Melbourne in an early spring campaign.
But Hoysted is wary of not getting too far ahead of himself noting Uncommon James was still learning his trade.
Uncommon James will have a short break before heading to Melbourne where he will be stabled at Cranbourne with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
“He’s been super impressive with everything that he has done so far,” Hoysted said.
“But he’s still putting it altogether, he’s doing a few little things wrong.
“A trip away can really make some of these horses grow up and can be the making of a lot of them and hopefully that can be the case with this bloke.”
While hoping to walk away from the Melbourne trip with a win, or two, Hoysted said part of the trip was a learning curve to the bigger Queensland races next winter.
“There’s still a fair bit to go, but it would be good to get him down there, test him against the better ones and see where he stands,” Hoysted said.
“We’re not putting him right in the deep end, but it will be a lot harder racing than up here.
“He’s well deserving of his opportunity and we’re looking forward of giving him that.”