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Armidale trainer Lea Selby is confident the engagement on experienced jockey Terry Treichel will provide a telling factor for Rhodonite in Saturday's Glen Innes Cup.

“Because of the weights he gets he generally goes around with learner’s (apprentices),” Selby said.

“When he only got 55 kilos I was more than happy to put Terry on. He’s an experienced rider and knows Rhodonite.

“I’m very confident. They’re going to have to run a record to beat us.”

Apprentices have been aboard Rhodonite at its past 13 starts. Treichel last partnered the gelding at Grafton on May 12 last year.

Back in February 2011, Treichel and Rhodonite combined to score over 1400m in a record breaking 1.21.21sec at Moree.

Selby’s major disappointment is again drawing a wide barrier (11).

It was a wide barrier that brought about the evergreen nine-year-old last start over 1200m at Tamworth on January 4 when Rhodonite was beaten into third behind Fort Sumter.

“He should have won,” Selby contended. “The other jockeys knew he likes to lead and they kicked up inside him. He raced four wide the whole trip and was only just beaten with 58.5 kilos on his back.

“And they ran 1.08.41, unheard over 1200m at Tamworth, just outside the track record.

“It was a massive run.”

Selby believes, despite Rhodonite’s advancing years, the gelding has never been in better form in his career.

“Since a little let-up, he’s racing in the best form of his career,” she said.

“I’m training him a bit different, treating him as a fresh horse, not giving him as much work as usual.

“He seems to be thriving on it.

“I ride him work myself and galloped him Tuesday. While he’s not normally a flash trackworker, it was

“I’ve taken my time getting him to 1400 metres this time, probably his best distance.

“I’m pretty confident he can win.”