If Huetor can capture the The Beauford at Newcastle, it will underline both Peter Snowden’s training skill and the gelding’s extraordinary resilience.

The veteran has survived two major setbacks — a serious eye infection in 2022 requiring multiple surgeries, and a shocking tendon laceration suffered in last year’s Caulfield Cup.

“He got galloped on in the Caulfield Cup last year… to see the tendon, it was a horrible sight,” Snowden said. “The vet said, ‘we’ll save him, but he will never race again’.”

Huetor struggled in his first three runs back, prompting Snowden to add blinkers in a final attempt to spark improvement. The response was immediate, with a strong fourth in the Rosehill Gold Cup.

“That was his last chance,” Snowden said. “Low and behold, he bounced out and did what he did.”

Although Saturday’s 2300-metre assignment isn’t perfect, Snowden says Huetor is thriving and deserves his chance.

Snowden also saddles favourite Grand Prairie in the Spring Stakes, confident the colt will handle the mile despite his Flemington flop.

“He’s such a relaxed horse and he has such a big action, I’m fairly confident he will run it out,” he said.