While there's still plenty of time for things to change, trainer Gary Colvin believes the five-year-old has found his niche in races at a mile to 2000m and is considering ways to get a ticket into the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) run on November 7.
The more immediate aim though is Saturday's Racing And Sports Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens where Colvin hopes he can back up his gallant fourth in the Wagga Cup over 2000m from early May.
"We always knew he'd run a distance because he's such a relaxed horse and I think we've pulled the right rein this time,'' Colvin said.
"You've got to have a crack at the country races, we're lucky we won a Country Championships over 1400m but he's been crying out for ground."
The gelding was the 2022 Newhaven Park Country Championships winner but his lone attempt at the $2m The Kosciuszko last spring was a non-event and Colvin then stretched him out to a mile where he finished the year winning the Ted Ryder Cup under 61kg.
He won the Listed National Sprint first-up from a break in March and was five weeks between runs going into his hometown Cup, only his second attempt beyond 1600m.
Colvin said he was proud of the horse's fourth placing given he had to chase runaway leader Cognac and was left in front at the top of the straight before being beaten less than half a length.
"That was his first time at 2000m at Wagga and he really handled it well,'' he said.
"We were sitting ducks so we had to go for broke and see what happens."
The Wagga trainer says Another One, $8 with TAB on Wednesday, would appear to have his chance at Rosehill to post his first non-country restricted Sydney win.
"He's had a couple of bad draws but he's been going really well and I think he's come on since Wagga so I'm keen to get up there,'' he said.
"He has a good turn of foot when he gets a nice run so we just hope he gets a nice run."
Another One's third in the Snake Gully Cup last year gained him eligibility for the $500,000 Little Dance (1600m) but given low rated eligible race winners plus second placegetters are higher in the ballot he's unlikely to make that field.
Weight would likely prevent him contesting the $50,000 Narrandera Cup (1600m) in July so if Colvin elected to chase a berth in the Big Dance it could come down the Wild Card on Everest Day where first and second are exempt from ballot.
"We'll see how he goes and make up our minds from there. There's one at Narrandera but we'll probably get a lot of weight there,'' he said.
Stablemate Kappy's Angel had a shot at the South East Country Championships earlier this year and after her unplaced run in the Queen Of The South at the Wagga Cup carnival she won't be tried at 1400m again any time soon.
Colvin is going back to the drawing board a little in the TAB Highway (1100m) where she faces a 6kg weight drop and a more favourable gate than last start.
"She's probably a 1200m horse, she had a couple of runs at 1400m and just couldn't get it,'' he said.
"She'll win a few races, she's not a big filly but she has plenty of heart and she should go well."
Danny Beasley rides both Another One and Kappy's Angel.
