Mastering winning at Kilmore (Image: Racing Photos)
Mick Price believes Mastering can progress through to open company and is therefore confident of success at The Valley on Friday night, that is if he can get a start.
Mastering is second emergency in Race 7 and is rated an even-money favourite with most bookmakers.
Formerly prepared by Matt Laurie, Mastering returned as a gelding last start and destroyed his rivals at Kilmore with an emphatic six-length victory.
Behind him that day was Exceltara, who has subsequently won at The Valley, and Mr Money Bags, who placed behind Amadeus on Pakenham Cup Day last Saturday.
"I think he is the type of horse that could rise through the grades to open company quite quickly," Price said.
"His form as a gelding will be much better than what he did as a colt, which most people could easily see after what he did at Kilmore."
WATCH: Mastering's Kilmore win
Mastering sizzled on the clock at Kilmore on Cup day, recording the fastest final 1000m, 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the entire meeting.
"I think the key to the horse now that he is a gelding is just keeping him nice and fresh, spacing his runs and letting him tell us what we should do with him," Price said.
"I think he will be quite effective at 1200m and up to 1400m, maybe a mile in time as he gets a little stronger but at this stage we will be keeping him to that 1200m to 1400m range.
"Hopefully he gets a run at Moonee Valley but it isn't the end of the world if he doesn't.
"We are not in any rush with him, he can go to Flemington on Saturday week and run in a 1200m BM78 down the straight.
"He is a horse who should have a nice future and hopefully he can continue to rise through the grades."