Uncommon James (Image: Racing Photos)
Queenslander Uncommon James ticked off his first visit to The Valley on Monday morning as the Oakleigh Plate winner prepares to resume in Friday's Moir Stakes.
Damian Lane renewed his association with the Group 1 winner and pleased co-trainer Matthew Hoysted ahead of the 1000-metre assignment, a distance he hasn't tackled since winning his maiden in June 2021.
"I actually like it," Hoysted, who trains the horse in partnership with Steven O'Dea, said of the distance.
"Obviously he was a touch fresh over the 1100 metres in the Rubiton first-up last time and there should be nice genuine tempo in this, so I think it just allows him to relax and he is definitely sharp enough for the 1000 metres.
"With the more genuine tempo, should see him relax a bit better in the early to mid-stage of the race and in turn can finish off better.
"Hopefully we can draw soft to middle to ensure we can potentially hold that spot whether it is third pair depending on how quick they want to go along, but just as long as he can be nice and smooth and be in a nice rhythm, he will really finish off strong."
The son of Cable Bay, who arrived in Melbourne two-and-a-half weeks ago and is being stabled at Flemington, jumped out smartly at Kilmore on September 15 and Hoysted said he has been impressed with his mental maturity this time around.
"He probably could have been ready to go a couple of weeks ago, but this was always our target first-up," Hoysted said.
"He has had a faultless prep and just seems a bit more mature.
"That was the last thing he probably had to do just grow up a bit, with his manners he can still be wary of other horses, but he seems more focused this time in.
"He made that physical improvement from last spring to the autumn and he is probably that little bit bigger again going into this … but the physique has always been there."
Uncommon James will head to the Manikato Stakes second-up after Friday night, a stage of his previous campaigns at which he is unbeaten from three attempts.
Sportsbet has Uncommon James marked an $8 chance for the Moir Stakes.