Close mates trainer Trevor Bailey and jockey Scott Galloway are poised to return to the limelight with Avalanches.
Avalanches will run in the Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben on Saturday.
However, Bailey and Galloway are growing in confidence the former Darley galloper can race well and go on to be a top chance in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 7.
Bailey, the son of former Brisbane and Gold Coast premier trainer Alan Bailey, has been a good trainer in his own right with many top horses including Fabiarna, Perfect Feeling and Barlinnie.
He had a successful stint as a trainer in Singapore but has been relatively low key since returning to the Gold Coast from Newcastle.
Galloway has gradually been working his way back into the jockey ranks after taking an extended break following the accidental death of his toddler son Charlie two years ago.
Avalanches, a son of staying sire Street Cry, did his early racing in Victoria but Bailey bought him for a group of clients at the Magic Millions tried-horse sale early this year.
“A lot of them are from the Coast. Some had raced a horse before but several were newcomers and they have lined up to get another one, so they are obviously enjoying it,” Bailey said.
Avalanches has won two races for Bailey, both at the Gold Coast over 1800m, but it was his last-start second in the Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm that caught the eye.
“It really was a good run because he came back in distance and the track didn’t suit him,” Bailey said.
“Scott felt he would have won for sure had the track not been shifty. He couldn’t accelerate.”
Favourite for the Rough Habit Plate is the Donna Logan-trained Telepathic who has won her past two starts in New Zealand.