The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable are looking forward to getting Floating Artist up in distance again after an injury almost ended his career.
Floating Artist ran a career best when finishing fourth to Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup and was then off the scene for 17 months.
An injury to the carpel sheath at the back of the knee resulted in a long break and extensive rehabilitation before Floating Artist made his way to Bendigo in April for his first-up run.
Three weeks later, Floating Artist headed to the Hawkesbury Gold Cup with the plan of then heading further north to Brisbane for a winter campaign, but the gelding jarred up on the good track.
After a short break, Floating Artist returns to the track at Flemington on Saturday in a 2000m handicap.
Eustace said it was remarkable Floating Artist had made a return to racing after his injury.
“It’s hard to say he’s going as good as ever, he is two years older, but I don’t see any reason why we won’t see him in the spring,” Eustace said.
“He’s been in work a long time. He’s probably been in work about nine months and had a couple of runs, albeit he had a little setback in between,
“His first-up run was excellent, then he jarred up in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup on the quick ground, so ideally, we get a drop of rain.
“He’s forward enough for Saturday if the ground is right.”
Eustace said the stable was not going to get overly ambitious during the winter months with Floating Artist who is a five-time winner from 19 starts.
Floating Artist started his career in the UK and graduated from a win in a benchmark 78 race at Moonee Valley to running fourth in the Melbourne Cup in his first Australian campaign.
Despite being topweight on Saturday, Eustace said Floating Artist’s rating was not over the top.
“He can run in open handicaps with a bit of weight, which he’ll have on Saturday, and then leading into the spring we’ll be guided by the ground and where he is,” Eustace said.
“He looks a Metropolitan style of horse and is up to winning a race like that at his absolute best.”
