From finishing second behind Home Affairs in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington to starting in The Warra, Bruckner has had his trials in more ways than one since.

The now four-year-old by Snitzel returns to the track on Saturday for the first time since Derby Day at Flemington in 2021 after knee surgery which has seen him have more than a year away from racing.

And while the $300,000 The Warra (1000m) has lofty prizemoney, the quality of opposition won’t quite be that of Home Affairs – now a stallion at Coolmore – and Artorius who Bruckner separated across the line..

But the outlook is positive as Bruckner occupies the third line of betting in TAB’s market at $7.50 and while a win on Saturday would be a plus, the focus is must more on the colt building back into racing.

“He’s come to hand really well over the last month,” co-trainer Dave Eustace said.

Bruckner trialled once in February 2022 at Cranbourne behind Profiteer who was later retired, then notched a trial win at Hawkesbury over 760 metres on October 17.

“The trials have been quite good, and we’ve given him a bit of time at the beach off the back of that trial.

“Naturally he’s going to improve that run after being away for a long time after knee surgery.

“Hopefully he just runs a nice and we’re really just using it as a third trial, and we hope he pulls up well from it.”

Bruckner won his maiden at Kembla Grange in August 2021 before taking out the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield later that month, which preceded a second placing behind Kallos in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.

The Warra market is headed by the Bjorn Baker-trained topweight Malkovich at $3.90 who is also an acceptor for the Swiss Ace Plate (1000m) on the first day of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival at Sunshine Coast on Saturday.