SUTTON Grange trainer Brent Stanley is expecting to see a sharper Coming Around when the former Western Australian galloper heads to Flemington on Saturday.
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The five-year-old gelding arrived in Victoria with big wraps following three-straight city wins at Ascot and certainly did not disappoint when he finished second in his Victorian debut in last month's $90,000 Mildura Cup at Swan Hill.
Coming Around, a winner of five of 14 career starts will line up in the $125,000 G.H. Mumm Plate (1410m), with Stanley confident of his chances.
"I was happy (with his Swan Hill run, he obviously needed it," Stanley told broadcaster Racing.com.
"He's got winkers on this week to sharpen him up a bit.
"He's picked up really well sine his first run, his last couple of gallops have been sensational. I think you'll see a bit sharper horse than you did the first time 'round."
Stanley, who finished last season with 36 winners - 34 in Victoria, including four in metropolitan grade - believed Coming Around would appreciate the step up in distance to 1410m after he charged home in the Mildura Cup over 1300m.
"I was really happy with the way he ran through to the line, you go back through that whole meeting and not many horses hit the line and made up ground," he said.
"He's got a long prep ahead of him, so he's going to get better with every start.
"I think he will be a lot better horse this weekend."
Stanley has settled on a change of jockey, with Liam Riordan taking the reins after Regan Bayliss rode the gelding at Swan Hill.
"Liam has ridden him in work a few times and has done a couple of jump-outs on him as well, so he knows the horse quite well," he said.
"Fingers crossed he can get the good run just behind the speed.
"I was happy with his run first-up, he did a good job running second.
"He's got a lot to improve, but he's a much better chance on Saturday."
An early $3.50 favourite, Coming Around's rivals on Saturday will include his stable-mate, 2018 Bendigo Cup winner Red Alto.
Coming Around boasts an excellent record second-up, with two wins and a second from three starts.
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