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Trainer Bjorn Baker is confident talented three-year-old Iowna Merc has shaken off what was a forgettable experience last time he ventured to Randwick and can get back on top on Saturday.
From the moment the saddle went on his back two weeks ago the gelding had issues.
While all the talk was around jockey Amy Mclucas striking her head in the stalls just prior to jumping, resulting in the horse settling near last before charging into fourth behind Insurrection, Bjorn Baker revealed Iowna Merc just wasn't himself in the moments leading up to the race.
"It was a combination of things, everything went wrong,'' Baker said.
"He got replated after he had the saddle on, he was a bit agitated and reared up in the gates.
"It was nobody's fault, that's just the way it worked out. That's racing."
Iowna Merc clocked 33.82 (Punter's Intelligence) for his last 600m last start, the race's equal fastest, and his last 200m of 11.62 at the end of 1100m was clearly the quickest home by well over a length.
He will be reunited with Dylan Gibbons in the Bowermans Handicap (1200m), following their gutsy win over Kibou a month ago, and he gets weight relief from stepping up in class.
Baker said, assuming the gelding behaves himself in the gates, he expects Iowna Merc, $2.10 with TAB on Thursday, to return to his normal pattern of racing on or near the speed and if that's the case he will be hard to beat.
"You like to stick with the winning combination and he was very good last time for Dylan,'' he said.
"I think he's in good order, we did our trot ups and we're happy with him.
"He's got really good ability and I think the way he's going he's a stakes horse in waiting.
"In hindsight the 1100m last time wasn't ideal, hopefully going back to 1200m make a difference."
Iowna Merc still leads the BOBS horse premiership with $73,125 in bonuses earned this season.
Lady Of Luxury appears likely to gain a start in the feature Listed $160,000 Robrick Lodge Winter Stakes (1400m) and Baker was rapt with her performance, despite being unplaced, in the Civic Sakes two weeks ago.
The mare, second emergency when the fields were drawn, made plenty of ground from a rearward position to be beaten under three lengths by Ucalledit whom she will meet 2.5kg better at the weights.
"I've been really happy with her,'' he said.
"She didn't have a lot of luck in that race last time so I think she will be competitive."
Stablemate Baby Rider is expected to head to Grafton on Sunday and chase a Big Dance berth in the South Grafton Cup.
Bjorn Baker on Battleton (race 5): "He needs a bit of luck from the gates and he's starting to look like a horse that needs everything go his way."
On Wategos (race 7): "He's going to have to step up but he gets weight relief and a good gate. He's a city class horse, up to Saturday is a step up but we are happy with him. We wanted him to have a good hitout in the trial and a relatively easy week."
