Gallant Star is still chasing his first win this campaign, but trainer Brett Robb believes the gelding has earned a shot at Saturday’s $500,000 Lakes Mile at Wyong.
The Dubbo-trained six-year-old will line up for his fifth run of the preparation in the 1600-metre feature.
A strong second in the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) set the tone for the campaign, followed by a narrow third behind Know Thyself at Randwick last start.
“The last couple of starts we’ve been happy with him and have been aiming for this one since,” Robb said.
“We’ve been looking to step him up to the mile and I think we’ve found the right race to do it.”
Brait Knock takes the ride from barrier 10 with 54kg in the 14-horse field.
The race marks Gallant Star’s first attempt at 1600 metres after a solid fifth in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m).
“Every time I think he’s just about found his level he steps up,” Robb said.
“You look at his record and he’s never gone out there and run a bad race.”