Five wins, including a double at Bendigo, in December provided his Ballarat stable with some momentum.

He is hoping to keep it going at Caulfield on Saturday, when he saddles up two lightweight hopes.

Alexander has the consistent Macattack in a benchmark70 handicap, 1400m, and last-start winner Thanos in a benchmark70, 1700m.

Macattack has had one win in three minor placings from just the seven starts.

The 3yo filly comes into contention after a last-start third in similar company at Sandown Hillside.

Thanos did not show a great at his first two starts on the Pakenham synthetic in June-July, but has returned from a break as much different proposition, with an improved first-up fifth and then a maiden success over 1600m at Bendigo

This is much tougher, but Alexander does have the golden touch at the moment.

ROBERT Smerdon's Caulfield/Ballarat training operation has clicked into top gear.

Smerdon has already brought up three city wins for the new calendar year.

This includes a double at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday with the promising Oak Door ($1.80) and New Zealand-bred Let's Go To Rio ($3.40).

However, he is resigned to losing Let's Go To Rio to Asia.

Let's Go To Rio is owned in Hong Kong by David Price and Smerdon expects the son of Captain Rio to do his future racing overseas.

Smerdon said Price was in the business of buying and selling horses, preferably to Asia.

VERSATILE Ballarat jockey John Allen was back in the saddle at Stawell on Friday after a break in his homeland of Ireland.

The flat and jumps jockey from the Darren Weir stable had his first race rides since early December.

DOUBTLESS Road ($10) made it two wins on end at Stawell gallops on Friday.

Trained by Mandy Shillito in Ballarat, the 4yo had his second success in seven starts in a benchmark58, 2000m. 

CARDIGAN harness racing trainer Emma Stewart has two starters in her attempt to win a second Horsham Pacing Cup in three years.

Stewart, who took out the event with Philadelphia Man in 2015,  has Geelong Cup winner Major Secret and last-start Ballarat Lightning Mile winner Young Modern in the group 2 $70,000 feature event on Sunday.

Daylesford trainer Michael Barby will send around It Is Billy.

INTER-DOMINION champion Smolda is in Adelaide for his last hit-out before the group 1 Ballarat Pacing Cup on Saturday, January 21.

Being stabled in Ballarat by his trainer Mark Purdon for his upcoming Victorian summer campaign, the New Zealander will be a short-priced favourite in the group 1 $100,000 SA Pacing Cup, 2645m, on Saturday night.

Smolda won last year’s Ballarat Pacing Cup.