Scone trainer Scott Singleton believes a more settled Remlaps Gem is up to a class rise in the Rusty Spanner Sprint (1000 metres) at Muswellbrook on Friday.
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The four-year-old Rubick gelding is the least experienced in the feature race, with just three race starts, but two wins ensured he opened a joint $2.50 favourite on Thursday with the TAB.
The Cody Morgan-trained Somals, a winner twice in four Victorian starts, was the other top elect.
Remlaps Gem resumes off a 14-week spell and a strong trial at Wyong where he was a close second to city-winning mare Iconic Star.
Singleton was eyeing a 1000m Highway Handicap in town in two weeks with Remlaps Gem, which will race outside of his home track of Scone for the first time.
He was fourth in his only failure, which came either side of victories in his only preparation. He has gate six on Friday and Singleton expected a strong return.
"He did well his first prep then he had a normal spell and he's come back really good," Singleton said.
"He had a bit of a wind issue not long after he was broken in and he's just a really big horse, so he's taken a bit of time.
"I think he's come back a bit better. He's a bit more settled this time.
"He was always wanting to overdo it a bit last time, but he was nice and settled in that trial the other day.
"We were happy with how he trialed. His work's been really good, so he goes there in good nick tomorrow."
Singleton said the race was a jump in class but a weight drop gave him hope of a victory.
"He's won with 60 and 59 kilos and he's dropping to 55, even though he's out of his class," he said.
"But he needs a five-furlong race and there's not that many of them around.
"It sets him up for a Highway in a couple of weeks, so it works out well.
"That one time he got beat as a short-priced favourite at home, he choked down and he had to go back to the trials.
"He trialed good but he probably had enough in that last win.
"He's come back a better horse but he needs to be going up in class.
"I think he's good enough for that class but he's first-up and he's a big horse. I think he'll run well and he'll be cherry-ripe for that highway."
Last-start Taree winner Sausalito ($9.50), trained by Newcastle's Paul Perry with in-form Hunter jockey Aaron Bullock aboard, was the only other horse in single figures for the Rusty Spanner.
Singleton said filly Baiyka, in the 900m maiden to open the program, was his other main chance among four runners.
He also has Artie's Rose in the fourth and Opal Glory in the fifth. All will have Billy Cray aboard.
"She'd be a bit of a hope there," he said of Baiyka.
"She was first-up with no trial the other day [when 12th at Scone] and she just blew out a bit but she's come on from it. She should be in the mix.
"Opal Glory can run a bit of a race but he wants further."
Muswellbrook's eight-race program starts at 1.25pm.
AAP reports: The Rosehill debut of well-bred filly Centro Storico represents the beginning of a new dawn for trainer Richard Litt, but Morton's Fork sums up everything his stable has been built on.
Litt relied on tried horses like Morton's Fork to lay the foundations of his business as he carved a niche in the competitive Sydney market.
Then along came star colt and Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio, a dual group 1 winner subsequently purchased for a tidy amount by Arrowfield Stud, which now stands him as a stallion.
Castelvecchio was the horse every young trainer dreams of getting and he changed the trajectory of Litt's life.
He also allowed owners the Galletta family to invest more money into racing with the purchase of Clarry Conners' Victory Lodge stables at Warwick Farm and some superbly-bred yearlings.
"It has been a complete turnaround the last couple of years," Litt said.
"We've got a new property, we've got some well-bred horses, we've got some new owners from all around the world - Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand.
"It's a massive opportunity."
Among the Galletta's yearling purchases was Centro Storico, a $410,000 Snitzel filly who has trialled well ahead of her debut at Rosehill.
While Castelvecchio was never much of a trackworker, Centro Storico has been an ultimate professional.
"Castelvecchio never showed much at home, he always kept his cards close to his chest. He was definitely a game day horse," Litt said.
"She is the opposite. She works well, she is very professional, she never does much wrong. She's a ready-made racehorse really.
"She seems to be straightforward in her own way but also has a little bit of wow factor about her."
If Centro Storico can win at Rosehill, Litt will consider a Magic Millions tilt at the Gold Coast in January but stresses that will hinge on how the filly stands up to her first racing campaign.
Morton's Fork, a 51-start veteran, has already proven his durability and will bid to add to his tally of seven career-wins in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m).
His ultimate goal is next month's Christmas Cup, which he won last year.
"His fitness is improving all the time. He does like the firm tracks so we expect him to run really well with the aim that the Christmas Cup is his grand final," Litt said.
"He's an old warrior and he's going as well as he ever has."
Mr Marathon Man is a more recent acquisition and will tackle the Group Three Festival Stakes (1500m).
Litt saw enough merit in his last-start effort under a big weight at Newcastle to anticipate an improved showing.
"He's a work in progress. He came with a few tricks and he's taken a lot of working out but we seem to have him on track."