Gregory Hickman is looking to use Thursday's meeting at Kembla Grange to press his claims for a place in the newly-created Four Pillars race.
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The Warwick Farm trainer is confident three-year-old gelding Unwritten is perfectly suited to the $700,000 event.
The race is restricted to Midway trainers, with 18 slot holders granted the ability to choose their runner and receive a share of the prize money.
After finishing eighth in the Group 3 Breeders Plate last October, Hickman believes Unwritten will return to black-type racing and he views the Four Pillars as a perfect stepping stone.
To receive a start, however, he must impress the slot holders and that starts in a 1300-metres maiden at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
"We're looking to win and maybe we can go to the Four Pillars," Hickman said.
"His work's been up to scratch but it's not an easy race, there are plenty of chances. The nice, big track will suit us and if it rains it will be great."
The quality of racing at Kembla should be high, with a number of talented horses making the trip south on Thursday. It's a group that includes ATC Oaks runner Sassysav in a 1500m Class 1, while stakes horses Hi Hi Hi and The Bullring will face off in a 1200m Class 1.
Robert and Luke Price will be looking for success on their home track, with talented gelding Verbek starting his spring campaign in a 1000m maiden.
The race comes after a promising two-year-old season that saw the horse finish second in the Listed Phoenix at Eagle Farm.
Unwritten's maiden will be competitive, with Matthew Dunn's Head Legislator looking to claim his first victory after running second in his past five starts.
Also in the mix are Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Deep Snow and Chris Waller colt Edmonton.
Hickman recognises it's a tough contest, but is confident his runner will prevail.
"Maybe the trainer has had too big of a wrap on him, but he's a nice horse,'' Hickman said. There's a race he ran in town where the sectionals were very good.
"We've got to get him out there and more consistent so we can move up the ladder."
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