Although Entirely Platinum hasn’t won a race for more than two years, his co-trainer insists he is in career-best form.
Wayne Hawkes, who prepares the gelding in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, says the seven-year-old has held his form since his last-start third in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes on August 13.
Entirely Platinum ran third behind Fawkner and Rising Romance in last year’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes after having a torrid run from a wide draw.
This year Entirely Platinum has drawn the inside barrier in Saturday’s Group One race which should allow Dwayne Dunn to negotiate a better passage.
“He probably should have won this race last year after drawing wide,” Hawkes said.
“He was always three-deep and almost did the job.
“He’s in just as good form and while he might not have won for a while he’s been oh so unlucky and oh so close on a few occasions.
“He’s in career-best form but hasn’t won for two years.”
The gelding’s last win came at Rosehill in August 2014.
He was scheduled to run last week in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley but missed a start as an emergency.
Hawkes says the extra week between runs shouldn’t pose a problem as Entirely Platinum races well fresh.
The only concern for Hawkes is the five to 10mm of rain predicted on Friday.
“Our biggest plus is that we’re racing at Flemington,” Hawkes said.
“It will take a hell of a lot of rain to stuff Flemington up.
“It’s the best wet weather track in Melbourne so if it’s going to pour on Friday we’re racing at the right track.”
The Darren Weir-trained Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart is the dominant $2.30 favourite to capture his second Group One win of the season ahead of stablemate Palentino at $6.
Rising Romance is the $8 third pick with Entirely Platinum at $15 on Thursday.
