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Red Ocean may be the only last-start winner from eight nominated horses for the $100,000 Class 1 Polytrack sprint over 1100m on Sunday, but he faces a huge test to win again according to his trainer, Shane Baertschiger.

The five year-old surprised a few - although not his trainer - when he won in Class 2 company over the same trip on March 12. This time round, while he is allocated the same weight at 50kgs, he faces tougher opposition and is potentially worse off at the Class 1 handicap conditions.

Some would recall that apprentice jockey Rozlan Nazam claimed the full four kilos when he rode Red Ocean  at only 46kgs, but that luxury will not be happening on Sunday with Rozlan on suspension, albeit his new partner, jockey Iskandar Rosman will claim his full two-kilo allowance and ride Red Ocean at 48kgs.

While that does not look much of a difference to the casual observer, the "extra" two kilos could make all the difference at the business end.

"I think we needed every bit of Rozlan's four-kilo claim last start," said Baertschiger on Tuesday.

"I know we have no weight again – Iskandar will ride at 48kgs – but the opposition is tougher and we should be getting 12kgs off Donna's (Logan) horse (King Arthur) and we aren't in that great (at the weights) against Lucky Jinsha or Sky Eye.

"And they are pretty serious Polytrack sprinters - King Arthur is a weight-for-age Group horse - so we are up against him Class-wise.

"But the small field is in our favour. We haven't got natural pace but with so much speed in the race, we can take a sit and hopefully finish off the race like we did last time."

Baertschiger cannot fault Red Ocean since his last win and hoped that he can be more than competitive in this company with options open going forward.

"He has been in great order since his win," continued the lanky Australian conditioner on the son of Ocean Park.

"This trip is probably a tad short second-up – I would have liked another Class 2 race over 1200m - but we have kept him fresh. We will gallop him over 1000m tomorrow and home in 38secs (final 600m).

"He did it tough at his last start, so the win was good enough to think he can handle a race like this. But again, it's a big jump in Class so we will see how he goes before making plans for his next run."
Baertschiger - who had a relatively quiet start to the season with only five winners to sit 16th on the trainers' log – has another eight nominated runners on Sunday. He singled out another last-start winner in Shanghai Star as one of his better chances.

The five-year-old son of Smart Missile looks well-placed with 55.5kgs in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m, a point not lost on his astute trainer.

"It's his first try at the mile but he always races like it will suit," he said.

"(Jockey) Benny (Woodworth) stays on and I think it's a winnable race. He (Shanghai Star) carried 58kgs at the Novice (race) conditions last start and carries two-and-a-half kilos less now.

"The small field of nine will suit him too, so we expect him to go well."

Two of his other Class 4 runners, Summer Wind and Be You, are both nominated in the Class 4 race over 1400m and Baertschiger thought that both of them will play a part in the finish.

"Summer Wind (x Hidden Dragon) wrenched a fetlock – like spraining an ankle – at his last start (last in a Class 4 race on March 18) so I think we can forgive him for that run," he said.

"He's in good order and is working well – always does – and (jockey) Shafrizal (Saleh) has won on him before (in a Class 4 race over 1400m on July 31, 2022). He will most likely lead and should give a sight.

"(Jockey) Matthew (Kellady) will ride Be You (x Showcasing) and he was good over 1200m last start (March 25) and this trip (1400m) is better for him.

"Hopefully, they both go well."