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Harbour Views and Gailo Chop are scheduled to run in the Underwood Stakes.
The life of a country racehorse trainer often sees them racking up many kilometres a year.
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams is no different.
He made the three-hour trek to Ararat on Monday with his sole runner and will hit the road early on Tuesday morning with a truckload for a trackwork session at Casterton, two hours from his home base.
Harbour Views (FR) and Gailo Chop (FR) are scheduled to run in the Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on Saturday and will have their final hit-outs together at the country venue.
Williams explained the Warrnambool course proper had undergone maintenance following a heavy winter schedule but will be ready to resume in a couple of weeks.
"The Casterton club has been fantastic in opening the track for course proper gallops, trials and jump-outs, so Harbour Views and Gailo Chop will head there and work together and then they'll both head to the Underwood on Saturday," Williams said.
After a short break, Harbour Views made his return in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 5, finishing third behind Humidor and Surprise Baby.
Williams thought Harbour Views' effort was sound despite him having every chance during the race.
"Maybe the inside was slightly inferior and the only other thing maybe he could have possibly got was a bit more room from the 600 metres to the 400 metres where he can get rolling," Williams said.
"He travelled up really strong between the 600 and the 400 and I thought he was going to have a big finish on him.
"When he got out he found the line well, but he didn't jump out of the ground.
"He might go a length or two better if he's able to be one off and build into it a bit."
Gailo Chop finished third in last year's Underwood Stakes which was taken out by fellow "veteran" Black Heart Bart.
Williams has Gailo Chop following the same program as last year after the gelding ran in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
Gailo Chop finished 13th behind Fierce Impact, but Williams said it was a better run than last year when he finished in the same position.
"He got crunched at the start and lost his spot and ended up two pairs further back than we wanted," Williams said.
"In a slowly run race he doesn't have the sharp sectionals in the last 400 metres to be competitive, but I thought his run this year was better than last year.
"This year he was still stretching out and looking like he was wanting to get to the line whereas last year in the last 100 metres he was going backwards.
"Last year he improved a lot from the Makybe Diva to the Underwood and I expect the same this year, but this year might be a stronger Underwood also."
The Underwood Stakes has attracted 18 nominations with last start Makybe Diva Stakes winner Fierce Impact the highest rated runner.
Makybe Diva runner-up Russian Camelot is nominated along with Arcadia Queen, Dalasan, Finche, Humidor, Kings Will Dream, Nonconformist and The Chosen One.
Russian Camelot has been installed the $2.50 with TAB ahead of Arcadia Queen ($4.50) and Mr Quickie ($6) with Harbour Views and Humidor at $10.
Final fields with barrier draw will be declared on Wednesday.
