Trainer Mitch Beer will launch a three-pronged attack on the Benalla Cup on Friday as he targets his first win in the $125,000 feature.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The stable will be represented by Aim Smart, Sky Call and Mnementh.
Beer said he was still scratching his head in regards to the first-up performance of Aim Smart who produced a lacklustre performance when finishing at the tail of the field at Canterbury earlier this month.
The Kiwi import was an impressive trial winner at Corowa in September, winning by more than five lengths and leaving Kosciuszko contender Lord Von Costa in his wake.
"I thought Aim Smart was terribly disappointing when resuming," Beer said.
"Especially after his trial win which was enormous.
"I was dumbfounded by his performance but he has come home and his work has been excellent since.
"I had the vet go over him to try and find out if there was something wrong but he was given the all clear.
"The blinkers go on and you just have to excuse him for the one bad run because it was almost too bad to be true."
IN OTHER NEWS
Aim Smart is $11 in fixed odds betting with Jordan Mallyon set to ride.
Stablemate Sky Call will be approaching peak fitness after having two runs back from a spell.
The Country Championship qualifier winner has finished outside the placings in two starts at Randwick.
"She has had two conditioning runs in Sydney over the shorter trip and has got back in the field and been held-up in both of them," he said.
"Without it costing her too much.
"But I really think third-up over 1400m is her time to shine.
"Once you contest the Country Championships you get hit hard rating wise and pay the price.
"She won't go around if the rain comes.
"But on top of the ground everything indicates for her to be peaking and Teo Nugent is back aboard and he knows the mare well."
Sky Call is regarded as a $21-chance in fixed odds markets.
Mnementh will be out to atone for a last-start second when storming home from well back on his home track.
The promising gelding also run second two starts back in a highly competitive Federal at Canberra.
Jake Noonan will take the reins on Mnementh for the first time who is a $15-chance.
"He should have won last-start but he didn't and that's racing" Beer said.
"I think the horse is going great and I've always had a healthy opinion of him.
"But when you get an opportunity to win a nice race you have to take it.
"If he had of won the Federal and this was his next start he would be half the price of what he is."