It's been 18 months since Military Zone's last win, but Wollongong part-owner Gareth Foye is optimistic the five-year-old gelding has his best to come in Saturday's Group 2 Villiers Stakes.
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The spring preparation has been a frustrating one for connections, after Military Zone returned lame after the Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury last month, ruining any chance of running in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Triple Crown runner was also fairly luckless in trying to swing off heels and into the clear, to finish 10th in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, 3.6 lengths off winner Outrageous.
But even if he made The Gong field again - where he finished fourth last year - the Villiers has always been set as the target race and Foye is optimistic he can bounce back.
"Not much has gone right for him," he said.
"He seems to find a bit of trouble and then when he was lame at Hawkesbury, that ended our shot at The Gong. And he's had a couple of gear changes along the way, but I honestly think he's a live chance if he can get some room in the straight at Randwick.
"His work has been good and he's fourth up, he should be peaking here, because this is the race he's been aimed for."
Wind the clock back 12 month and Military Zone showed the potential of a middle-distance star, emerging from the ruck to be fourth, little more than a length off Chris Waller's Mister Sea Wolf in the inaugural The Gong.
He was also four lengths seventh behind Kolding in last year's $7.5 million Golden Eagle, despite being badly checked in the straight.
Military Zone is rated a $26 with TAB, with the Angela Davies-trained Through The Cracks favorite at $5, ahead of Godolphin's Criaderas and Outrageous at $6.
Meanwhile, Theresa Bateup's talented mare Monegal ($12) heads to Randwick for Saturday's Benchmark 78, on her way to Gosford's Belle Of The Turf on December 29.
Monegal won first-up at Kembla Grange on The Gong day.
"She's going really well, it's a good race for her before heading to Gosford," Bateup said.
Summer heat to test The Guru
The quick back-up will not be an issue for Bateup's The Guru in Saturday's Summer Provincial Series heat at Kembla Grange.
The weight and barrier might. The Guru ran last behind dominant winner Ellsberg in a Benchmark 72 over 1500m, but was only a couple off runner-up Joliette.
The four-year-old gelding pulled up so well, Bateup will take a shot at qualifying for the Summer Series final, to be held at Wyong on January 2.
"He was stepping up in grade a bit and just got awkwardly placed in that final 100m," Bateup said.
"The winner is heading to the Magic Millions, but he's stuck on with the rest and just kept trying.
"He's pulled up really well, but he's not ideally weighted and copped a bad barrier.
"But there just weren't many suitable races and it gives him an opportunity for the final if he can qualify."
Bateup also has Ma Bella Rosie in a 1400m Class 1 after finishing third at Sapphire Coast last start and River Charge in the first event.
