Up-and-coming import Old Flame will be on trial for a Group 1 start when he heads to Newcastle for the Cameron Handicap.
In his second Australian preparation, the entire resumed with a gutsy win at Rosehill last month when he wore down Purple Sector in the final bounds.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden expects him to appreciate a 100m distance rise to 1500m in Friday’s Cameron Handicap, as well as the expansive Newcastle track, and he is unperturbed by Old Flame’s outside draw in the field of 10.
“He is drawn a bit awkward but it’s not a big field and he will go forward anyway so he should be fine,” Peter Snowden said.
“It was either go here or to the Tramway and I thought Newcastle was a good track for him, the 1500 is good, just hopefully this rain doesn’t come.”
The winner of the Cameron is exempt from a ballot for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 and Snowden is keen to get Old Flame to the feature provided he performs to expectations at Newcastle.
“If he runs well up there, he will (go to the Epsom),” Snowden said.
Old Flame’s rivals include Purple Sector, along with Queensland Guineas winner Character and Tulloch Lodge gelding Cross Talk, who has been freshened since he was beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Rowley Mile last month.
The Snowden stable will be represented in Friday’s Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) by Carif, while under-rated mare Mirra Vision tackles the day’s other feature, the Tibbie Stakes (1400m).
A dour stayer, Carif is being targeted towards the St Leger (2600m) on Everest day but is capable of running into the placings, while Mirra Vision resumes on a mission to go one better than her close second in the Tibbie Stakes 12 months ago
“She was very narrowly beaten last year and her first-up form is good,” Snowden said.
“She has had a couple of extra trials and a bit of work to get her ready for this so she should be very competitive.”