Trainer Matthew Smith is hopeful that his speedy gelding, Way To The Stars, can surprise some top sprinters in his Group 1 debut at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Way To The Stars heads into the race as the recent winner of the Listed Century Stakes (1000m), and Smith is encouraged by the gelding’s dominant trial win and impressive first-up record of four wins from five starts.

“Horse looks great, work’s been good, I’m really happy with him. He’s going to have a crack at the Lightning,” Smith said.

Smith is aware of the competition but remains optimistic. “You never know. Some of the others aren’t quite ready yet, but we might give it a shake,” he added.

Way To The Stars’ third-place finish in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) last preparation showed he can be competitive at elite levels.

“He’s a good horse who makes his own luck,” Smith said, adding that a repeat of his best performance could see him challenging for the win.

While weight-for-age conditions at Group 1 level may be tough for him, Smith sees the race as a good gauge for his future preparations, with potential targets including the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m).