Promising three-year-old Pro Consul resumes at Muswellbrook on Monday beginning a campaign aimed at the $400,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas.
Pro Consul, with Greg Buckley aboard, tackles the Mangoola Coal Class 1 Hcp over 1000m first-up from a 71-day break.
"The 1000 metres is probably a bit short but we've got to start somewhere to get him rolling," trainer Greg Bennett said.
"He's primed first-up but the idea is to build momentum.
"His Grand Final day is May 18."
Pro Consul, by Reset out of the More Than Ready mare More Laurels, was a $9000 yearling at the Scone sales and is raced by Sydney-based, Paul Burke.
"He was a cheap buy considering Reset's service was about $30,000 then," Bennett said. "I liked his pedigree and type.
"He showed up as a two-year-old. We actually got excited early on but he was feeling his joints and I didn't want to push him too much given his pedigree suggested he'd be better later on.
"He's a very clean winded horse but was green, big and gangly early on. He's always shown natural speed and works well on the track."
Pro Consul made his race debut at Scone on December 29 scoring by three-quarters of a length when he fought on gamely in the home straight.
Next time out, the gelding was beaten a short head by Sutton Power over 1400m at Tamworth on January 20.
"He won nicely first-up then was a bit unlucky at Tamworth," Bennett said.
"He couldn't get a run when he needed it in the straight.
Greg Ryan, who rode Sutton Power, said to me afterwards another five feet and we win."
With the Guineas in mind and further time to mature, Bennett then gave Pro Consul a spell.
"He did well during the break. He's come back in good order, Bennett said.
"Well ride him quietly early tomorrow. Hopefully there's a bit of speed on.
"He'll go into the Guineas third or fourth up.
"Down the track I think he'll develop into a miler, 2000 metres horse."