Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani is hopeful a slight fall in his handicap rating will enable stayer Future Score to strike winning form at Flemington.
Future Score runs in the Schweppervescence Handicap (2600m) on Saturday where he will be joined by stablemateFanciful Toff.
After a last start eighth in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on December 4, Cumani has seen Future Score’s rating slip to 95 after being at 100 after his third-place finish in the Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown last year.
Future Score was a race morning scratching from last month’s Melbourne Cup with Racing Victoria vets holding concerns over his fitness, before they passed him fit to start in the Pakenham Cup.
“He’s come through that race well and I’d imagine Racing Victoria will want to have a look at him again at the races, but I’m pretty happy with him,” Cumani said.
“He put in a good gallop yesterday and looks to be in good shape.”
Cumani said the Pakenham Cup did not pan out as expected for Future Score in a race dominated from up on the speed.
“I think it was well-ridden from upfront and not many horses made ground apart from my other horse, Team Captain, so it didn’t really suit Future Score,” Cumani said.
“He’s probably at a level and he’s come off that and dropped a couple of points now, so he might start coming back into contention again.”
Fanciful Toff has raced only twice for Cumani and was off a break when sixth in the Traralgon Cup (1900m) on November 28.
“He had a wind problem at the backend of his last prep which we did something about,” Cumani said.
“I thought it was an excellent start in the Traralgon Cup, but it was a bit short for him and on Saturday off a nice low weight of 53 kilos, I’m hopeful he can go a nice race.”
