The horse who won the hearts of racegoers and broke the hearts of his rivals in his last campaign returns to racing at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The White Hope resumes in Saturday's Winning Edge Awards & Designs Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on a path to what trainer Matthew Dunn hopes will culminate in a Stradbroke Handicap start.

"He's going great although if he's ever going to be vulnerable it will be this race first-up because he's going to be better when he gets over more ground," Dunn said.

With a racing pattern reminiscent of the mighty Vo Rogue, coupled with his distinctive ghostly grey appearance, The White Hope became a favourite with Brisbane racegoers in a brief three-start campaign late last year.

Dunn made a bold decision to spell the four-year-old and miss a lucrative Magic Millions campaign but he believes it was the right call.

"He was showing signs of going stale and I didn't want to push him too hard at that stage," he said.

"He had five weeks in the paddock which was a decent spell for him and mentally he's a lot better for it."

A Sydney campaign was raised as an option for The White Hope, but Dunn believes concentrating on the Brisbane carnival makes more sense.

"We probably missed the boat a bit as far as Sydney is concerned but there is a silver lining because we've got all the time in the world to get him ready for the winter," he said.

The White Hope finished fourth to multiple Group One placegetter Buffering in an 800m barrier trial at Eagle Farm on March 12 but Dunn was satisfied with his effort.

"It was surprising how much pace he showed in the trial with no blinkers on but he came through it fine," he said.

The grey's only defeat in five starts was at his first start when he was beaten 14 lengths on a heavy track.

"The one chink in his armour is he can't handle heavy going because he's got such a long stride and likes to get into rhythm which he can't really do when it's wet," he said.