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A consolation win and a confidence boost is what co-trainer Sterling Alexiou is looking for from consistent galloper Green Shadows as he eyes a breakthrough at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Green Shadows missed a run last weekend when he was left stranded as an emergency in the final race at Randwick, where he was pre-post favourite, so the Robrick Lodge Handicap (1400m) is very much Plan B.
But Sterling Alexiou said it's a good opportunity for the three-year-old to notch his third career win, having not won since he took out his first two career starts, with 1.5kg off his back for Zac Lloyd.
"It looks like it on paper but they've still got to go out there and do it,'' Alexiou said.
"He brings good form to that calibre of race and with Zac's claim he gets into the race with a winnable weight.
"You're racing for $150,000 on Saturday and he's a Saturday class horse so it's a bit disappointing we've got to drop back to the midweeks.
"But if things go to plan he should be mighty hard to beat."
It's been a month since Green Shadows, $1.75 with TAB on Tuesday, had his first start as a gelding with a fast-finishing second behind Phearson at Randwick in a Benchmark 78.
On that occasion he was slowly away and conceded a big start but Alexiou said for a first-up run it was a positive start – at the same time, with a tickover trial last week under his belt, he'd like to see the horse convert this opportunity.
"The 1300m was probably a bit short of his best, he's probably a 1500m-1600m style of horse,'' he said.
"Brad's horse (Phearson) stole a bit of a march on the bend that day and had race fitness on its side.
"He's a horse that's always shown enough ability, we've thrown him in the deep end a couple of times and he's bumped into some handy horses a couple of times.
"I remember at Warwick Farm seven months ago now we thought he'd just win that day and he bumped into that good horse of Chris's (Kovalica).
"Maybe it's his turn now to step up and start winning a few races."
Stablemate Arctic Glamour made a promising debut earlier this month and Alexiou said the filly will benefit from the experience as she heads into the Furphy Handicap (1200m).
She closed off the race over the same course to be beaten half a length by Joliestar.
"She's still a bit new and raced that way. The 1200m is possibly a little bit of a query, I think she might be looking for a tad further," he said.
"If Kerrin (McEvoy) can get her into a good enough position early she won't be far away."
The first part of the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1200m) will be crucial to Master Showman's chances of going one better than his last start at the Farm when ambushed by Step Aside in the closing stages.
Alexiou said the gelding has drawn a slightly tricky barrier given the make up of the field but hopes he can offset it quickly.
"I'm not so worried about the wide gate but there looks to be a bit of pressure underneath him,'' he said.
"He's a horse that likes to roll forward and dominate races. You can't punch many holes in his form, he's been super consistent and I'm sure he'll race well again."
