Trainer Glenn Stevenson is hoping his promising stayer Spring Bean can develop into a Devonport Cup horse and will have his final run before a spell in the 1880m BM72 Hcp in Devonport on Sunday.
Spring Bean has been in top form this preparation, winning three of his four starts and finishing second in the other. All four runs have been on the synthetic Devonport track, where his overall record stands at four wins and two placings from six starts.
"He can stay, and he loves the track, and he will get in with the right weight. He lacks that killer punch that Cup horses need to have. We put the blinkers back on him the other day, and everyone that rides him thinks he's going to put them away by five or six lengths, but he just sort of pokes his head out," Stevenson said.
"He's bigger and stronger but still has a bit to go to mature. Jordo (Codi Jordan) just came off the beach and I said do we try and lead or do something different on Sunday with a small field to teach him something, there's not a heap of speed in the race because he just gets to them and he shuts off, he's just not savaging the line when he gets to the other horses.
"He still has a bit to learn. We will tip him out after this run, whether we try to lead or go back and sprint home, I'll leave that to Jordo."
Stevenson knows what it takes to train a Devonport Cup winner, having won the past two with Ashy Boy.
Stevenson will have a busy day with his team on Sunday; he's confident Spring Bean will go close in the last race but is hoping for a few others earlier in the day.
"I thought the one on the first (Blameitontheboogie barrier 13), if it had drawn a soft gate, would have been first three, but it will be tricky from there."
Blameitontheboogie is having its first start. The three-year-old has trialled twice and was one of the more impressive winners at Longford on 3 June. Blameitontheboogie will contest the 1009m maiden.
"I do like a horse that galloped the other day from Matty Brown, we've had it a little while called The Longest Yard. I thought his work was good. I'd say they are my best hopes, along with Spring Bean. Blameitontheboogie will be a nice horse, but that wide gate could be the reason why he doesn't win, but definitely The Longest Yard is a good each-way bet."
The Longest Yard has done all his racing in Victoria, where he has started 15 times for just the one win. That was at his first run over 1000m back in July 2023. The four-year-old was placed three runs back over 1400m at Werribee on 25 April.
The Longest Yard will tackle a strong class 1 field over 1350m on Sunday.
"Hurricane Ketut, another ex-Matty Brown horse, has been handy for us, and he should run well." Hurricane Ketut is having his first try on the synthetic surface in the 1350m class 4.
Sunday's Open Hcp (1009m) has attracted a small but classy field; the eight acceptors will be running for prizemoney of $45,000. Track specialist Seydoux (10 starts, seven wins) returns to the Adam Trinder stable after an unsuccessful interstate campaign.
John Keys has the top two-rated horses, Galenus and Tsunami Sam.
My best bet comes up in the first. La Zampa has trialled nicely at Longford recently, winning twice in reasonable times, and should get a gun run from gate two with apprentice Chloe Wells riding for Andrew Roach.
