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Glenn Old believes he has a stayer that can do the business in Saturday's Listed Yealands Family Wines New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham.
The Matamata trainer will produce Stratford Cup (200m) winner Bizzwinkle in the three and four-year-olds staying feature, buoyed by the Rip Van Winkle gelding's last-start second to subsequent Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) runner Excalibur in the St Leger Trial (2100m) at Hastings last month.
"His run had a lot of merit. The winner went on and ran well in the Auckland Cup and if we get a good track, you've got to like his chances," Old said.
"He's a big striding horse and he does need good ground. In the Summer Cup, the track was a bit shifty after the rain they had and he didn't travel that well in it.
"When he won the Stratford Cup, the track was a good 2 and he loved that. He's a genuine stayer and we're hopeful."
TAB bookmakers opened Bizzwinkle as an $8 third favourite for the St Leger behind impressive last-start Ellerslie winner Felaar at $2.20 and Commanding Prince at $6.50.
"He's going really well. We've taken the side winkers off with a plan to ride him in the trail," Old said.
"He got a bit lost at Hastings and Alysha [Collett, rider] reckons he should settle better in the trail and stay on strongly. We'll press forward from the draw and if he can't get cover then he'll lead but our preference is to get the trail."
As the highest-rating runner in the St Leger and an open handicap winner, Bizzwinkle looks well placed in the race Old has long had as his campaign target.
Old said Bizzwinkle was likely to spell after Saturday's race with a view to a spring campaign aimed at the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November.
Meanwhile, Old has his eye on the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy (1600m) at Matamata on Saturday week with Our King Sway.
The switch from Tauranga in venue suits the Group Three-winning grey son of Shinko King, who was a narrowly-beaten second in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata last month.
"It's a $100,000 race on our home track so we might as well have a go," Old said. - NZ Racing Desk.