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It's a smaller team for the stable this Saturday, with three runners set to line up at Rosehill and Wyong. All have trained on well and head to the races with genuine claims of performing strongly.

Emma Reeves aids us with programming and identifies who she thinks is the best placed horse each weekend. Mo Chroi, Saturday 4th July, Rosehill, Race 7:This is less of a 'rule follower' and more of an interesting horse to follow. He was bought as a three year old colt from the Goffs London Sale almost exactly a year ago, having had just two starts in Ireland, one as a two year old and a maiden win as a three year old. He was released from quarantine in early August and spent a few weeks having a look around Flemington before heading out for a spell.During his next preparation, the decision was made to geld him and, as is so often the case, everything fell into place from there. He trialled twice over distances well short of his best and showed a turn of foot that so many imported stayers don't possess. That was the one thing that gave me confidence heading into his Australian debut over 1550 metres around the tight-turning Canterbury circuit, a combination that would bring most imports unstuck. He won with a bit in hand that day, stamping himself as a possible Spring Carnival contender.Saturday's run has been chosen as the next step to determine whether he's ready to join our ‘A-team’ of carnival horses. While it's a sizeable step up in grade, I'm hoping it shines a light on a future star.

WEDNESDAY 8th JULY - CANTERBURYRail Position: +6M EntireELIO, Race 2, 1200m, 1.25pm, W Costin, 56.5kgElio ran another extremely honest race when finishing a close fourth over 1250 metres at this track three weeks ago. He’s dropping back in distance by 50 metres here which we think will suit him, and this is another nice race for him against his own age group. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 3 so he should get control of the race, and Winona gets a terrific tune out of our horses and knows how to ride them effectively so we’re delighted to have her aboard. He’s unproven on a track as wet as this but he’s got form with sting out of the ground so we’re confident he’ll cope, and we hope he can knock off his maiden tag.LADY INVICTUS, Race 3, 1200m, 2.00pm, A Hyeronimus, 59.5kgLady Invictus did us proud with her terrific effort to finish third at Rosehill last time. It’s a big jump from a midweek city race to a Saturday, but she acquitted herself with huge credit and lost nothing in defeat. She’s dropping back in grade here as this is a lovely race for her against her own age group, and the step up to 1200 metres is probably what she’s looking for at this stage of her preparation. She’s drawn a lovely barrier in 2 so Adam should be able to go forward from there and control the race to suit himself, and she’s proven on a soft 7 which hopefully translates into heavy track form tomorrow. She’s holding her condition well and training the house down at home, so we see no reason why she won’t find herself back in the Winner’s Circle once again.VIRGIL'S GIFT, Race 5, 1550m, 3.10pm, A Hyeronimus, 60kgVirgil’s Gift ran a brave race at Rosehill last time. She was up in grade and only gave way late in the piece, so it was a very creditable performance. She’s dropping back to the midweeks here which is a positive, and she finished second over 1500 metres in November so we’re confident that this step up to 1550 metres on a tight turning track like Canterbury is within range for her. She’s drawn a lovely barrier in 4 so Adam should be able to roll forward and take control of the race, and whilst she’s unproven on a heavy track she’s got form on soft surfaces so we’re confident she’ll handle the conditions. She ticks plenty of boxes and she’s a very genuine filly who tries hard, so we’re confident this will take her a long way and see her featuring in the finish.WHACK ATTACK, Race 5, 1550m, 3.10pm, Z Wadick (2kg), 60kgWhack Attack resumed with an incredibly promising performance at Gosford a fortnight ago. We thought the 1200 metres would be on the sharp side for him but he didn’t have any trouble with it, and he excelled himself to finish such a close second. He’s come through the run in brilliant order and hasn’t missed a beat since, so he comes into this fitter and ready to atone for that narrow defeat. He’s going to relish stretching out to 1550 metres and he had no problem with the tight track at Wyong, so given Canterbury is a similar configuration we don’t envisage any issues. Zac has won on him previously so we’re delighted to secure his services and valuable 2kg claim, and whilst barrier 14 is a little awkward Zac will be as positive as possible from there to try and land on or close to the speed where he can make his own luck accordingly. He’s up in grade and racing in town so it’s going to be tougher, but he’s open to plenty of improvement and won’t have any problem with the wet track so we expect him to be in it for a long way.THINK I WILL, Race 6, 1900m, 3.45pm, A Roper (2kg), 56.5kgThink I Will has been a reformed character since stepping up in trip and getting the blinkers on. It was a big jump in grade from a Kembla maiden to this same grade of race over course and distance last time, but he took it in his stride and give his opposition a convincing beating. He’s come through that run in great shape and done everything right since, so we can’t fault him ahead of this. He’s also going three weeks between runs which has enabled him to get over his previous exertions, and he has a real spring in his step ahead of this outing. He sticks to 1900 metres for now and Anna’s another very talented apprentice who takes a valuable 2kg off his back, so she’ll endeavour to roll forward from barrier 15 to try and repeat the front running tactics that have been so successful the last twice. He’s creeping up in the weights so this is going to be tougher and the opposition looks to have a bit more depth to it than last time, but he’s rapidly improving and we see no reason why he won’t be hard to beat once again.STEEL STRIKE, Race 7, 1250m, 4.20pm, A Hyeronimus, 59.5kgSteel Strike is in great shape ahead of his return. He took good improvement from his first trial to finish second in his most recent outing at Rosehill, and these two trips away from home have switched him on nicely. He was a model of consistency last preparation when placing twice at the midweeks and once in a Saturday grade race, and he’s had a break since then during which he was gelded which many deem the ultimate gear change. As such, we’re confident he has the potential to improve a lot this time in and this is a very attractive starting point for him. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1 so whilst he might not have the speed to lead, Adam will be positive from there to try and hold a handy spot where he can make his own luck accordingly. He broke his maiden over course and distance so we know he’s effective at this track, and whilst he’ll improve with racing and as he stretches out over a bit further he’s forward enough to run a big race here.THURSDAY 9th JULY - SALERail Position: +8M EntireKNIGHTS EMPEROR, Race 4, 1746m, 2.30pm, J Stanley, 59.5kgKnights Emperor got his preparation off to an encouraging start when finishing fifth at Bendigo. He did everything right in the run and plugged on gamely over the concluding stages to not be beaten far at all at the line. He has taken plenty of improvement from that outing so he strips fitter here, and we’re confident there’s plenty of improvement to come as a result. He’s going to be extremely well suited by the step up to 1717 metres, and the slightly steadier tempo of this longer race should enable him to travel nice and comfortably in the run. Jett knows him well from trackwork and he shouldn’t have a problem with the wet track, so he ticks plenty of boxes and we expect him to be right there at the finish.