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Dual licence holder Garry Frazer has resorted back to blinkers in a bid to get Tocomah ($15 on TAB) back into the winning list at his home track at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
The long-time thoroughbred trainer is in for a busy 24 hours as, in his role as a greyhound conditioner, he starts Sweet Venom at Richmond dogs later this afternoon at 4.49pm.
Lightly-raced Tocomah is at a much better quote for the Lander Toyota Class 1 Handicap (1300m) at 3.50pm tomorrow, and his trainer considers he is over the odds.
"I don't think he should be as long as that," Frazer said this morning.
"He has drawn the rails barrier, is fitter following two runs from a spell, and I expect him to run well."
Grant Buckley has ridden the Toronado gelding in all five runs, including a comprehensive Gosford Maiden (1100m) breakthrough nearly 12 months ago.
At his last start – and only his second since last August – Tocomah finished third to Divine Okay in a Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at Wyong a fortnight ago.
Racing NSW Stewards reported Tocomah became unbalanced passing the 150m after bumping with Xprersso and shortly after had to be straightened away from the heels of the winner.
The experienced Frazer has ditched visors and decided to put blinkers back on the rising five-year-old.
"He reacted in that incident at Wyong, so I feel it's best to go back to the blinkers," he said.
"Tocomah has raced only five times because he hasn't been the soundest horse. But he is the best I've had him at present."
Tocomah is the first foal of Mine Two, an I Am Invincible mare whom Frazer won a two-year-old race with at Royal Randwick in November 2014.
Whilst he doesn't see any similarities between mother and son, it's a different story with Tocomah's stablemate and younger half-sister Yankees, a daughter of American Pharoah.
"Yankees is a bit like her Mum, and I didn't expect to get her to the races as a two-year-old, much less win on debut at Hawkesbury last month," he said.
"She is a good sort and has gone for a spell, and should come back a really nice three-year-old next season."
First-up Warwick Farm winner Destiny's Bounty is the early $3.50 favourite for the Class 1, ahead of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Jayanthi ($4.20) and leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup's The Himalayas ($4.80).
Randwick trainer John O'Shea prepares Destiny's Bounty at his second stable at Hawkesbury, and has booked 3kg claiming apprentice Jackson Searle to lessen the Headwater three-year-old's 61.5kg topweight.
Jason Collett will ride the consistent Jayanthi, and Hugh Bowman takes over on The Himalayas, a recent first-up Hawkesbury winner for Jean Van Overmeire, who is currently serving a suspension, but will be back in action at the weekend.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Karen Outtrim is looking to Mr Luke ($9.50) to provide her with her third victory this season in tomorrow's TAB.com.au Maiden Plate (1800m). Mr Luke, a son of the now deceased 2011 Melbourne Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach, finished last at his first three starts when he began racing earlier this season.
But he has shown gradual improvement as his distances have been increased, and has been placed at his last two starts, both over 2000m, at Wyong. Jay Ford rode Mr Luke at his last start when second to Alloway in a Class 1/Maiden Plate a fortnight ago, and again partners the four-year-old.
Tomorrow's meeting is the second last of the season, as both the jockeys and trainers' premierships reach interesting conclusions. Tommy Berry (16 wins) leads Rachel King (15) and Josh Parr (14) in the jockeys' premiership, but only the latter pair is riding at the meeting.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (14 wins) hold a two-win advantage over James Cummings in the trainers' premiership, and both have representatives tomorrow.
Hawkesbury this morning was rated a Good 4 following 12mm of rain the past seven days, but none in the last 24 hours. The rail is 2m out from the 1300m to 400m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.
