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The two divisions of the $70,000 Class 3 races over 1200m on Sunday have a distinct nautical theme for trainer Shane Baertschiger with Red Ocean (Division 1) and From The Navy (Division 2) both having good chances.

Red Ocean  drops back in distance and company from his last start in the Group 2 Stewards' Cup over the mile and as he rarely runs on the Polytrack or over 1200m on any surface, his nomination did catch a few casual observers by surprise.

In fact, it was only a few weeks ago when the Ocean Park four-year-old was pencilled in by many as the likely pacesetter in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (eventually won by Lim's Kosciuszko last Sunday) but according to his trainer, that was never likely to happen.

"He just doesn't stay," was his succinct answer to that query.

"He probably deceived a few people when winning easily over the mile back in January (in a Class 3 race) but he got a really easy lead and they let him walk in front, so it was a 'sit-and-sprint'.

"He also led when winning easy with (jockey) Dan (Danny Beasley) up over the 1400m in Class 4 (in November last year), so leading looks his caper and he might be a 'one-trick pony'.

"1400m might be his best trip too, so the (Singapore) Derby was going to be a waste of time. After discussing with the owners, we thought that on trial form, he probably can win a race like this, but again, he needs to lead or race outside the leader."

And with the impressive last-start winner (and likely leader) Illustrious also nominated by trainer Tim Fitzsimmons; sitting on his flank may be the best option.

"Barriers will dictate what happens but (jockey) Matthew (Kellady) will try to have him right on the pace and pending how that early battle pans out, he should go well," said the Australian conditioner.

"He won some trials by big margins in good times, so the track holds no fears and it gives us another option going forward."

Unlike Red Ocean, From The Navy has won once over the Polytrack sprint (1000m) in September last year and comes into Sunday's race in rare winning form, albeit in Class 4.

The Hinchinbrook five-year-old has been a revelation for the stable in 2022 with three wins and a close second at his last four starts – all on the turf over 1200m – suggesting that he is more than up to having a crack in Class 3 company.

"He really blossomed after a break late last year," explained Baertschiger.

"Class 5 looked his grade 12 months ago but more than three months off racing did him a world of good – he matured nicely - and he's shown that with the results.

"In saying that, he ran second to Lim's Kosciuszko two starts before his spell and that form has held up nicely."

The man they affectionately call 'Stretch' also accredited the underrated jockey Mohd Zaki with his recent very good form.

"He goes well for Zaki," he continued.

"We put him (Zaki) on a lot of our horses who like to race on the pace or lead – he's a terrific judge of pace – and he gets on with particular horses like From The Navy.

"As a jockey, I think he is underutilised, which is good for us as we use him a bit."

Indeed, Baertschiger gave Zaki his biggest thrill when the pair combined with the frontrunning Nepean to win the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy in 2020 but also insisted that From The Navy and his jockey does not have to lead to win.

"He only led at his last few wins because there were no other leaders in the race," he said.

"But if you look at his last win on the Polytrack, he came from worse than midfield, so he can easily take a sit.

"With a horse like Crystal Warrior in the field, maybe we can sit third or fourth in running - pending the barriers - and play a part in the finish."

Baertschiger also has Preditor – who bounced back to winning form last Sunday in a Class 4 race over 1400m – nominated in the Class 3 Division 1 race but will monitor the nine-year-old before declarations on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on the card, the Australian has some in-form runners nominated, including Free Fallin' and Atlas, who are both eligible for a Class 5 race but will run in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1700m on the Polytrack and 1200m on the turf respectively.

"He's (Free Fallin') not a kid's horse (thus reluctant to claim four kgs in Class 5), so we are happy to race him in Class 4 with no weight (50kgs)," said Baertschiger, who has saddled 21 winners in 2022 to sit seventh on the trainers' premiership.

"And he's shown at his last two (race) in that grade that he can win one soon.

"Atlas placed last start in a Class 5 (race) but the drop in weight will help him too as he showed at four starts back in this company when running fourth after missing the kick."