Lindsay Park is hoping to wind back the clock with the imported Pilote D'Essai, which will attempt a second victory in the Ballarat Cup.
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The now seven-year-old won the 2016 race at his seventh run in Australia and backed up a fortnight later to claim the Pakenham Cup.
The stable had high hopes for him the following autumn, but after two runs Pilote D'Essai's campaign was in tatters when he suffered a tendon injury.
It was another 14 months before he was seen again and in nine starts back he has failed to trouble the judge.
Senior co-trainer David Hayes saw enough in Pilote D'Essai's latest effort – seventh in the Kyneton Cup – to suggest the gelding is ready to strike form. And he is hoping that will be on Saturday.
"Unfortunately he bowed a tendon and it's taken a long time for him to find his form but I think he's coming back into form," Hayes said.
"He's a big gross horse that has taken a long time and a lot of racing to get fit again but hopefully we've got him there now."
