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He’s been a real ‘winter find’ but exciting import Fawkner Park will be racing for the chance to be a spring contender at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Annabel Neasham, speaking on Sky Sports Radio, said the picket fence alongside the gelding's name earned him the right to a class test in the $160,000 Petaluma Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m).
It's been just over a month since Fawkner Park made it five straight, four since joining Neasham, when he scored over 2400m under 60kg and he's enjoyed a couple of weeks in a paddock as a reward.
He'll plummet to 52.5kg with premier apprentice Zac Lloyd to ride.
"His work has been good, he's dropping to the 1800m but hopefully the freshen will suit him and he has a nice light weight with Zac's claim as well,'' Neasham said.
"He's won five in a row now going for six, he's very progressive. I'm also mindful he's coming out of a winter Benchmark 78 into this sort of grade.
"It's a big step but he's done everything we've asked him every time we've raised the bar he's got the job done.
"He's been carrying big weights his last few runs so obviously against better opposition is the reason he's carrying less weight."
Fawkner Park, $2.30 favourite with TAB on Thursday, has drawn awkwardly but in a race with a number of horses resuming he has recent racing on his side.
"He's the ultimate racehorse, he can put himself on speed. He's straightforward,'' Neasham said.
"If he can win we'll look to keep going with him through the spring."
A gear change has Neasham hoping Space Tracker can post an overdue first Australian win in the TAB Handicap (1500m) after his unplaced effort in the South Grafton Cup a month ago.
The gelding ran fifth in the Big Dance eligible race and Neasham said putting winkers on for that event didn't work so they're coming back off.
"He was a bit disappointing that day, he was probably just overdoing it,'' she said.
"I put the winkers on and it didn't seem to really suit him.
"He had a week in the paddock and his work has been good this week. I wouldn't have minded drawing in a little closer with him but it's a nice race."
Prior to heading to Grafton, Space Tracker was placed twice at Rosehill behind Resonator and Attractable.
Meanwhile, Group 1 winning mare Sunshine In Paris will gallop alongside stable star Zaaki between races at Rosehill on Saturday.
Neasham said the four-year-old, who won the Group 1 Surround Stakes back in February, is likely to trial in the near future and kick off in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes in September.
