Group Two-winning sprinter Wilander is on the comeback trail with new trainer David Hayes after being retired to stud.
The rising six-year-old won four of his 10 starts for Lee Freedman, including the 2008 Schillaci Stakes (1000m), the Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington.
However the son of Exceed And Excel and Scandinavia was retired to stud after finishing eighth of nine in the 2009 Schillaci.
Hayes said the sprinter was found to be infertile and was subsequently gelded and put back into work, a shame considering that he was from the same family as world champion sprinter Black Caviar.
Hayes took Wilander and two other spring prospects, Zagreb and Rebel Soldier, to Echuca for a gallop between races last week.
“He’s a magnificent galloper with a great action and he’ll go to the spring sprints,” Hayes said.
“He’ll go where Black Caviar doesn’t.”
Wilander has raced three times at Group One level with his best performance being a dead heat fourth with Weekend Hussler behind Scenic Blast in the 2009 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
He is nominated for Saturday’s TCL Electronics Handicap (1000m) at Flemington and with a handicap rating of 103 is the highest rated entry for the race ahead of Group One Lightning Stakes placegetter Warm Love (99).
Warm Love, who resumed with a solid third to Secret Flyer in last Saturday’s Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, is also nominated for Saturday’s Isca Handicap (1000m) for three-year-old fillies.
Beyond Pardon, Big Spirit, Definitely Ready, Tollesprit and Wordmaster are among the TCL Electronics entries.
AAP TURF
