Mitchell Bell partners the gelding against only five rivals in the Platinum Park Benchmark 75 Handicap (1600m).

Vite Loni, who is yet to win at home but has been placed at all three starts there, was on the way to the barrier to contest the $100,000 Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury eight days ago when he dislodged rider Christian Reith.

“It was just one of those things,” Croft said today. “The horse was fine and could have run but the jockey wasn’t quite right to take the mount.”

Vite Loni has raced three times since resuming – including a first-up Wyong 1200m placing – and Croft has excused his latest eighth to Dylan’s Rojo in a Benchmark 80 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

“He raced too close that day and didn’t finish off, yet was beaten just under three lengths,” Croft said.

“I’m happy with the way the horse is going.

“I’ll ask Mitchell to ride him quietly tomorrow, and hopefully he can pick them up at the end.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will supply two of Vite Loni’s rivals – French import Rio Perdido (Andrew Gibbons) and Olympic Academy (Jeff Penza).

Rio Perdido is having his third start since a two-year absence from the track, and Lees has put blinkers on him.

“It’s taking a while to get him fit after such a long break, but his work is better than his form indicates,” Lees said.

“His French wins were over middle distances and this race should top him off to step up to a journey next time.

“Olympic Academy looks well suited. I backed off him after two really tough runs in Sydney when resuming and he ran well from an outside barrier when a nice closing fifth over 1400m at Broadmeadow at his latest start.”

King Kinshasa, another Benchmark 75 rival, also will race in blinkers. Trainer Gai Waterhouse has booked her apprentice Rachel King, who claims 2kg.

The Olympic Academy mount aside, Penza has a splendid opportunity to further strengthen his provincial ties with the powerful Godolphin stable.

Penza will ride both Godolphin trainer John O’Shea’s Hawkesbury runners – Ransack (B2B Bloodstock Maiden Plate, 1100m) and Ambience (Jadeskye Racing Maiden Handicap, 1400m).

And Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive Brian Fletcher has named the Godolphin stablemates as two of his three specials (the other being Chris Waller’s No Return in the Lovatt Transport Benchmark 60 Handicap, 2000m).

Penza’s manager Greg Burke said the jockey had put together an excellent record for Godolphin in the last 12 months.

“He has ridden eight winners and 11 placings from 37 rides, including smart youngster Exosphere (who resumes in tomorrow’s Run To The Rose at Rosehill) when he scored at Kembla Grange in February,” Burke said.

“Jeff is one of the most underrated riders in Australia.”

Ransack and Ambience are both lightly raced three-year-old fillies; the former by Lonhro and latter by Street Cry.

Ransack will surely find this an easier assignment following a first-up seventh to Kangarilla Joy in a 3YO Maiden (1000m) at a midweek Warwick Farm meeting on August 5.

Ambience hasn’t raced since an excellent debut second to Clash Of Clans in a 1400m Maiden at Newcastle on the Group 3 Newmarket program on March 18.

She has trialled twice in preparation for her resumption, and scored over 1045m at Randwick on August 10.

Hawkesbury this morning was rated a “Soft 6”, with a penetrometer reading of 5.2. The track has received 26mm of rain this week, but nothing in the last 24 hours.

The rail is in the true position for the eight-race program, which gets underway at 12.20pm.

Brian Fletcher’s selections are: