Grahame Begg is looking to reverse the result of a stakes race from 12 months ago when Romancer (NZ) (Redwood) runs at Flemington.
Romancer is nominated to contest the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) having finished second in the race last year.
The Begg-trained galloper split Rekjavik and Holbien last year and all three horses are entered for this year’s renewal on Saturday.
Romancer will be having the fourth run of his campaign and Begg said the gelding would be at peak fitness for Saturday’s contest.
Begg said Romancer’s last start 10th behind another Winter Championship Series Final nomination Heptagon at Flemington on June 20 should be forgotten.
“He didn’t draw that well last time and he had a tough run so I’m hoping he can get a bit more of a cosier gate and be ridden with a bit of a cuddle,” Begg said.
“The horse has trained on well since the other day, he looks fantastic, so I’m happy in that regard, and fourth-up he should be ready to go.”
Twenty-six horses are nominated for Saturday’s race that has a history dating back to the 1980s when it was run predominantly on the country and provincial circuit with the final at Flemington.
The 1600m race is one of three Listed contests on the program.
The Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) for two-year-olds has drawn 17 nominations including last-start Flemington winner Cherry Tortoni.
Malibu Style is among 15 entries for the Victorian Sprint Series Final and is chasing back-to-back wins having defeated Milwaukee, also a nomination on Saturday, last year.
