It’s a decent trip from Ballina to Sydney so trainer Ethan Ensby doesn’t travel south without good reason and he’s found one and that’s to discover where unbeaten three-year-old Maximum Vortex stands.

Trainer Lauri Parker considers herself something of a jinx when it comes to in-form stayer Torrens so don’t expect to see her at Newcastle on Saturday as he chases his third win from his past four starts.