Trainer Brian Smith will revisit plans to take Hume to Melbourne if he can perform at his next two Sydney starts.
The eight-year-old, who finished second to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the 2009 Lexus Stakes, will step out in the Group Three Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
He has been working into form since returning from a long injury-enforced layoff and Smith was buoyed by his last-start seventh to Green Moon in the Newcastle Cup (2300m).
“I thought he was very unlucky,” Smith said.
“He got knocked down at the top of the straight and he only has a furlong (200m) sprint and he just came to the end of it.
“But he’s knocking on the door.”
If Hume runs well on Saturday, Smith will consider a seven-day back-up into the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.
But given Hume’s history with injury, Smith is taking it a race at a time and while a carnival campaign in Melbourne has not been ruled out, he wants to see Hume perform to book his passage south.
“I’m not even thinking about it until we’re over Saturday,” Smith said.
“He’s got to perform and win something to think about going anywhere.”
Stablemate Raeburn will also line up in the Colin Stephen and, like Hume, is coming out of the Newcastle Cup (2300m) in which he finished fourth.
The pair worked together at Newcastle on Thursday and Smith felt Saturday’s assignment was winnable for both.
“They are both working well,” Smith said.
“Raeburn has drawn well again (two), the other horse has still got to do it but Raeburn has raced very consistently over the Brisbane carnival without winning and his Newcastle Cup run was very good.
“He want the fire out of the track.”
Robert Thompson will partner Raeburn in the Colin Stephen while Rod Quinn rides Hume who has barrier nine.
AAP TURF
