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Trainer Gai Waterhouse says her Group One placegetter Ecuador is in the right ‘head space’ for his first 2400m test at Randwick on Saturday in the WJ McKell Cup.

Waterhouse says Ecuador’s last start win in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup over 2000m at Rosehill on May 7 shows the six-year-old has overcome mental demons that had impacted on his form since his previous win 12 months ago.

“Getting Ecuador mentally right has been the challenge and now I’m sure we have him there,” Waterhouse said.

“He’s in the right head space and I really think the time is right to test him over 2400 metres.

“He’s really gone ahead since his win at Randwick. Who knows, he may go from this to the Brisbane Cup.”

Ecuador is the winner of seven of his 26 starts but his career highlight to date remains his second placing in the G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) won by super mare Winx last spring.

Ecuador also boasts a second in the G2 Tramway Handicap (1400m) while his last start win in th Lord Mayor’s Cup was his first in four starts over 2000m.

He is known as a leader and was seen in his favourite role last start when Adam Hyeronimus rated him perfectly under 58.5kg, kicking clear to score easily by 1.5 lengths over several likely McKell Cup rivals.

Hyeronimus retains the ride on Saturday, getting a strong vote of confidence from Waterhouse.

“Adam has never ridden better and he really clicked with Ecaudor at Rosehill,” she said. “He’s got his weight under control and is riding with a lot of confidence.”

Ecuador will carry 59.5kg in the McKell Cup, a rise of 2kg on the weight he carried in the Lord Mayor’s Cup – and that’s just one of the challenges facing the gelding on Saturday.

Not only is he rising to 2400m for the first time he has drawn the widest gate ina field of 15 and must overcome what could be regarded as a Randwick hoodoo as he has never won in six starts on his home track. ,

Conversely he boasts an excellent Rosehill record of five wins from 10 starts on that flatter and arguably easier course.

He also is up to 2kg worse off at the weights against the horses who finished within four lengths of him in the McKell Cup, namely Havana Cooler (second), Hawkspur (fourth) and Index Linked (fifth).

Hawkspur, a G1 winner of the Queensland Derby as a 3YO, and Index Linked are among the five McKell Cup acceptors from the Chris Waller stable along with Opinion, Beyond Thankful, and Murphy’s Delight.

Waterhouse has won the McKell Cup twice with Grand Connection (1995) and We’re Dancing (2002) but remains one of the rare Sydney feature staying races yet to be won by the might of the Waller stable.

The horse the top Sydney stables will have to overcome is the exciting import Raw Impulse, winner of his three Australian starts for the all-conquering Darren Weir stable.

Raw Impulse, striving to give Weir his first ever winner in Sydney, has drawn gate four with Sam Clipperton booked for the ride.