Jason Coyle hopes Salsonic’s first trip interstate continues to have positive spin-offs when the gelding returns to racing at Randwick.

The four-year-old’s one-off trip to Brisbane in June proved successful when Salsonic won the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Doomben.

Salsonic then spent two months spelling in Queensland before returning to Sydney to prepare for Saturday’s Filante Handicap (1400m), a race the Warwick Farm trainer set as the launching pad for a potential crack at the Group Two Villiers Stakes in December.

“I think once horses get away that first time they always seem to come back a little bit more seasoned, a little bit more focused,” Coyle said.

Coyle said Salsonic had not quite shown those improvements, but it was more important for him to be switched on at Randwick.

“He’s never been a flash track worker. He’s always been a pass mark on the track and he hasn’t changed much there,” Coyle said.

“He can stargaze a little bit so I think we’ll only know how the trip has seasoned him for this preparation by how he reacts race day.”

Salsonic has trialled at Rosehill and Hawkesbury this month and Coyle has been pleased with his efforts.

“We didn’t do too much with him but he knuckled down late under minimal pressure,” he said.

“It sets him up nicely for a first-up 1400 in what looks a pretty competitive strong race.”

Salsonic has won over 1300m and 1600m and Coyle thinks he might get further in time.

“He gives that impression but at this stage he’s a bit off the boil mentally,” Coyle said.

“The seven and eight furlongs with a nice tempo in front of him seems to give him his opportunity.

“It takes him a few strides but once he hits that top gear he can really rattle off some strong closing sectionals.”

The nominations are headed by Group One winners Takedown and Japonisme with the 16-horse field declared on Wednesday.

Credit: AAP