Touristic is defying convention this campaign, with trainer Peter Snowden suggesting the gelding might only now be reaching his best ahead of the Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.
Fresh off his Listed Lord Mayors Cup win, the six-year-old will be lining up for his ninth start this prep — a workload few horses handle as well.
“Maybe he takes eight runs to get fit,” Snowden joked.
“There was nothing wrong with the last one. It was his peak performance.”
Touristic has banked over $580,000 in stakes across five wins from 37 starts and continues to present in top order.
He has proven competitive at staying trips, finishing second in last year’s Grafton Cup (2350m), and Snowden is confident the 2400m won’t trouble him.
“The give in the ground has been good for him. Not a bog but just a nice (soft) seven, eight. That’s a perfect track for him,” he said.
Snowden has multiple Rosehill entries but may scratch Hopper and Wave Breaker from wide barriers.
He’ll also saddle six runners at Eagle Farm, led by Coco Jamboo and Tashi in the Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m).