Jason MACKAY rarely takes one of his team to race on a new track without a trial but he has no concerns about Turbo Thomas being able to handle Bulli "first up'' on Saturday night.
Turbo Thomas will take on last year's final winner Pindari Express in the first and strongest heat of the annual group 2 Cyril Rowe Gold Cup on the Slacky Flat circuit.
Pindari Express, who covered the 472m in 26.16 in last year's event, resumes after a spell from box six, while Turbo Thomas will exit box one.
"He can certainly draw a box,'' quipped MACKAY, referring to the fact that Turbo Thomas, who has won 19 of 21 starts, has worn the red rug on seven occasions without suffering defeat.
"Turbo Thomas will go into Saturday's race without having seen Bulli but it won't worry him,'' MACKAY said.
"Wherever I have taken him, he has gone as fast in his first look as he has done in subsequent appearances, so all courses come alike to him.
"Turbo Thomas has won four races over 450m at Maitland, a roomy track like Bulli, and Saturday's race is only 22m longer so it's all good.''
Pindari Express has not raced since finishing third at WP on December 7, a week after posting a sizzling 29.68 over the 520m at headquarters.
The dog has won six of his nine Bulli 472m races and while he has been in work for several weeks, trainer Tracey Scruse was disappointed at not being able to give her crack sprinter a trial on the Cup course last Saturday night.
xxxx
SIMON Told Helen, who was cruelly robbed of a chance to win last month's group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby at Wentworth Park when bitten by a spider, returns to racing in Saturday night's group 1 Temlee over 525m at The Meadows.
Simon Told Helen has drawn box three, with the NSW representatives King Cratos, the Paws Of Thunder winner, in box one, and Million Dollar Chase victor Good Odds Harada in two.
"It took a long while for Simon Told Helen to get over that spider bite,'' said trainer David Burnett.
"But he is okay again and is flying and ready for Saturday night.
"I trialled him at Sandown last Sunday and on a track which was not fast he recorded 22.90 in a post-to-post hit-out.
"That was a super run on such a day and he clocked 12.41 to the back, time which was bettered only by Aston Wizard.
"Simon Told Helen's brother Who Told Stevie, who usually runs down his kennelmate when they trial together, will be back in action in the Australian Cup at The Meadows on February 22.
"All being well I am planning on bringing them both back to Sydney for the heats of the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on March 28.''
xxxx
Blue Moon Rising (box three) and Just Terms (box four) will again fly the flag for NSW in Saturday night's Group 1 Zoom Top over 725m at The Meadows.
Blue Moon Rising has not raced since being run down by Just Terms over 720m at Wentworth Park January 29 but is partial to The Meadows 725m course. where he won the group 1 Stayers' Topgun on November 9 and last year's Super Stayers Cup on March 2.
Although Blue Moon Rising will be chasing his 34th win when he lines up for his 112th race on Saturday, the dog is going as well as ever.
Melinda Finn, whose husband John trains Blue Moon Rising, said: "We trialled him over 535m at Richmond on Tuesday and the dog went really well.
"He is trialling and racing as good as he was a year ago, nothing ever changes with him, he's a marvel.''
