The Hombre is back in blinkers for the $200,000 Mudgway Stakes on his home track at Hastings tomorrow.
"I am really happy with him. He is fit and on his home track although it is always an unknown against older horses after racing against the 3yr-olds," John Bary, his trainer and part-owner, said.
The Hombre had a gallop between races with Fritzy Boy at Taupo two weeks ago.
The Hombre was a promoted winner of the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben in May.
He was spelled after an unplaced run in the Queensland Derby on June 12.
"He was out for four or five weeks and did better when we brought him back into work," Bary said.
The Hombre was in blinkers when he won his only start as a 2yr-old at Hastings in April last year. He also wore blinkers when he won against his age group at the corresponding Hastings meeting 12 months ago. He has been placed on a track rated slow. The Hastings track was rated a slow (9) yesterday.
Jonathan Riddell, who rode The Hombre in Brisbane, has retained the mount.
Four-year-olds have won five of the last six Mudgway Stakes, a weight-for-age 1400m.
Others in that age group engaged tomorrow are Keep The Peace and Eileen Dubh with Lamington Vegas the second emergency.
Keep The Peace, winner of the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March, won second up on a slow track at Avondale last September. She ran second to Alagant Satin in a 1200m trial at Te Teko on August 12. James McDonald has the mount.
Eileen Dubh, winner of the Levin Classic in November when ridden by Riddell, ran third fresh up last season.
Wall Street is favourite with the New Zealand TAB at $4.50 in final field betting. He has won fresh up on a slow track. Michael Coleman is the rider for Wall Street Coleman has won the Mudgway on Vialli (1996) and Xcellent (2005). He was also aboard the winner Field Dancer in 1987 when the race was known as the Byerley Thoroughbred Stakes.
Wall Street was ridden in the Thorndon Handicap and Coupland's Mile wins last season by Buddy Lammas. Opie Bosson rode Wall Street to win the Thompson Handicap at Trentham. Bosson is on Illuminates tomorrow.
