Trainer Matthew Smith is optimistic that Golden Straand can rediscover winning form this Saturday, following a less-than-ideal Melbourne campaign. The five-year-old son of Snitzel is set to compete in the prestigious $1 million Listed The Hunter at Newcastle.

This 1300-metre race marks Golden Straand’s first outing since finishing ninth in the Group 2 Rising Fast Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day. Despite racing prominently early, the horse faded in the latter stages.

Smith attributed Golden Straand’s performance in the Rising Fast Stakes, where he was beaten nearly four lengths by Ndola on his first straight-track start, to being overly keen at the beginning of the race.

“He just began too quickly,” Smith stated. “He drew the right part of the track, but the plan was to ride him with cover and he jumped straight to the front. So, it all went pear-shaped right out of the gate.”

Golden Straand’s previous three victories have all been over 1100 metres, and his last attempt at 1300 metres was on November 1 last year, resulting in a fifth-place finish in a benchmark 78 at Randwick on Golden Eagle Day.

The Warwick Farm trainer is not worried about the 1300-metre distance for The Hunter, provided the race unfolds more favourably than his last start.

“The 1300 should be ideal for him and just hopefully we get to ride him like the start before, when he got a bit of covered and finished off,” he explained. “He’s a big-galloping, big-striding horse, Newcastle should suit him and 1300 shouldn’t be a problem.”

Golden Straand was among 32 nominations for The Hunter, which also includes last year’s champion Coal Crusher, Group 3 winner General Salute, The Invitation runner-up Infancy, the in-form Victorian horse Run Harry Run, and Rising Fast Stakes second-place finisher Sweynesday.

Betting on The Hunter is now open, with many punters looking at the top Australian betting sites for the best odds.