A quiet approach from trainer Pat Carey with Captain Rhett may be about to pay dividends with the stayer at Flemington.
The five-year-old again steps up in distance on Saturday when he runs in the Make-A-Wish Australia Trophy over 2540m.
It will be Captain Rhett’s first try at the trip and only his second beyond 2200m, a distance he was successful at in maiden grade at Geelong in March last year.
Captain Rhett finished second over 2400m at Randwick in early November before returning to Melbourne where he finished second at Moonee Valley over 2040m on December 1.
“He looks nicely placed in the race off the back of an encouraging run at the Valley,” Carey said.
“And getting back to a mile-and-a-half should suit him.
“His first try at a mile-and-a-half in Sydney was good where he finished the race off well in a restricted race.
“He then came back to Melbourne and off a nice little break he ran well and the form out of that race is looking okay.
“This is the right grade and being a big scopey sort of horse he’ll be suited on the big track.”
Carey says he will be guided by how the gelding, to be ridden by Michael Dee, performs on Saturday.
At this stage the trainer is not looking too far ahead, saying racing through the grades appeals.
But if he was to win, or run well, then Carey may look at a race like the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m).
“There’s no end game for him but if he was to run well here you might consider a Bagot with him,” Carey said.
