Which Starcaster will turn up at The Valley.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper can, on his day, dispose of some quality opposition, but if not in the right frame of mind can produce sub-par performances.
Starcaster heads to The Valley on Saturday to run in the Mirasan.com Handicap (2500m) and Sam Freedman joked the gelding’s chances depend on what “side of the bed he gets out of in the morning”.
“We’ve been trying to work him out for a very long time,” Freedman told RSN.
“Sometimes you think you’ve got on top of him and worked him out, but then he’ll come up with a new trick, so we’ve learned not to overly trust him.”
Starcaster won the Benalla Cup in September and the Werribee Cup in December, but after those victories posted some disappointing displays.
He finished ninth in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) in October while post his Werribee win he finished a last start fifth at Caulfield over 2000m on January 8.
However, Starcaster does have two wins over Saturday’s trip at The Valley.
Linda Meech has ridden Starcaster at his past two starts, and Freedman said she may have found an excuse for his poor display last time.
“He went off in the gates at Caulfield, they vetted him after he hit his head on the front of the gates, so she wasn’t sure whether that had more of an effect on him than first thought,” Freedman said.
“He gets back to The Valley where he probably does some of his best racing.
“He should be able to get control of this race and you’ll know early on which Starcaster you’ve got.
“If he puts a space on them around the 600 (metres) you know he’s in for a good one, but if they come around him at that stage, he can throw the towel in.”
The Phillip Stokes-trained stablemates Daqiansweet Junior and Good Idea head the market at $2.40 and $3.80 respectively with TAB while Starcaster sits on the next line at $4.60.
