The much-travelled Mahican has been kept on the fresh side as he attempts to win in his third state.
Mahican had stints in Melbourne with Peter Moody and Sydney with Gerald Ryan, winning races at Geelong, Sale, Bendigo and Rosehill before being sent to Gold Coast trainer Trevor Bailey in January.
A $300,000 yearling, Mahican will make his Queensland debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1200m)on his new home track.
Bailey said Mahican seemed to race best when fresh and early in his campaigns.
“We have aimed to keep him on the fresh side for this race and then will do the same for the rest of his campaign. After Saturday he will have a week in the paddock,” Bailey said.
“Whether he is up to the stakes races in the winter is up for debate. He is the type of horse who will let you know what he can handle.”
Bailey said Mahican had shown plenty of ability during his career and he was confident the gelding was up to Saturday’s race.
“He ran third in a Bendigo Guineas as a three-year-old. He has been around a bit as apart from winning in two states and he was placed in a handy race at Morphetville in Adelaide last year,” he said.
Mahican is owned by the Cowell family’s Ascot Lodge Syndicate which has had several handy horses with Bailey over the years.
“We’ve had a couple of winners together and I don’t see why this bloke can’t join them,” Bailey said.
“He has barrier one on Saturday and should be able to take up an ideal position.”
Bailey also has Gold Coast specialist Avalanches resuming in the Gold Coast Stakes after a four-month break.
Avalanches has won five races at the Gold Coast, most of them at his favourite 1800 metres.
Bailey believes Saturday’s race may be too short for the gelding who has never won first-up but is adept on wet ground.
Rival trainer Bryan Guy is hoping another track specialist, Florida Fellow, can measure up to the better class in the Gold Coast Stakes.
Florida Fellow has won 12 races, nine at the Gold Coast.
“He is a last-start winner at the track and distance and he is well drawn in barrier two,” Guy said.
“He should race on the pace and a wet track won’t hurt him either.”
