Matthew Dunn fears his plans for Londehero are in jeopardy unless he wins Saturday's Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast.
Dunn has his sights set on the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 25 as the main goal for Londehero during the winter carnival.
However the gelding needs to significantly boost his prize money earnings of $29,000 to be guaranteed of making the field for the Sires'.
"Unless he wins or finishes in the placings at the Coast he probably won't get a run in the Sires' and there's plenty of competition out there and not many opportunities left," Dunn said.
Londehero has been placed in two of his three starts and resumed from a spell with an unlucky fourth to Octane Flyer at Eagle Farm on April 20.
"He ended up on the inside section of the track close to the fence which wasn't the place to be that day and he couldn't finish off the race as strong as he needed to," Dunn said.
Dunn has made an important gear change to Londehero, who will race in blinkers for the first time on Saturday.
"When he went to take the gap at Eagle Farm he just hesitated and that's what cost him the race because he had to switch back to the inside," he said.
"He's genuine but he just needs to concentrate a bit better and with the blinkers and a better barrier on Saturday he should nearly beat them."
Dunn describes Londehero as an uncomplicated horse to train and is impressed with how he has progressed in trackwork since his last start.
"I had to do a bit more with him on the track this morning than I normally would because he's done so well," he said.
"He doesn't miss a feed, doesn't miss a beat, he's a really nice horse to work with. I like him a lot and I think he's got a good future."