Matt Hoysted is pleased with how Uncommon James is progressing after his first-up outing at Randwick on March 8.

Though the 2023 Oakleigh Plate winner felt the effects of race fitness, the Brisbane-based trainer is confident there’s more to come from the six-year-old gelding. A potential run in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday remains a possibility.

Hoysted will decide after a gallop at Rosehill on Monday whether to race in The Galaxy or wait for the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) the following week.

“Assuming he works well, we’ll accept for The Galaxy and reassess after acceptances,” said Hoysted.

Uncommon James placed fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) last time out, after nearly ten months off. Hoysted believes the gelding’s form is improving, and he is keen to see him return to his best.

Uncommon James finished fifth in last year’s Galaxy and, should he win this time, he would become the first Queensland-trained winner since Tony Gollan’s Temple Of Boom in 2012.