He had no luck at the barrier draw and now Signore Fox is at the mercy of NSW’s unpredictable weather.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained backmarker faces a tough task after coming up with the outside gate in the field of 15 plus four reserves for Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter (1300m).
Compounding the issue is a forecast for storms and heavy rainfall with connections hoping if the wet weather does arrive, the quick-drying track can recover in time for Saturday’s meeting.
“He needs good ground,” Peter Snowden said.
“A soft six is OK but eights, nines and tens are no good.”
If Signore Fox can get his favoured conditions, the multiple stakes winner is capable of running a cheeky race.
He has shaped well in two recent runs and off the back of a last-start fifth to Eduardo in the Classique Legend Stakes, he boasts the right form reference for the Newcastle feature.
“It’s the same sort of field as the Classique Legend, there are almost the same horses in this race, so we know he’s up to this company,” Snowden said.
“He was very good the other day and the 1300 metres third-up now is brilliant for him.
“I’m certainly happy with him going into Saturday.”
While Snowden is hoping for a firm track, trainer Joseph Pride wants rain-affected conditions for Stockman, who heads to the race first-up after closing out his most recent campaign with back-to-back wins in the McKell and Caloundra Cups.
From 12 starts on rain-affected ground, Stockman has notched five wins and as many placings and while 1300 metres is short of his best distance, he can sprint well fresh.
“He’s come back super,” Pride said.
“He is heading towards the Villiers (Stakes) and Summer Cup.”