An unconventional preparation for a horse with an unconventional name.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Reuben Percival will go into Saturday's Listed Winter Cup (2400m) on the back of just one official barrier trial and a first-up run over 1400 metres.

Despite the gelding's lack of recent racing, Waterhouse's stable foreman Mark Newnham has no doubt Reuben Percival - a stable favourite because of his unusual name - is on target to capture successive Winter Cups.

"We won't be using fitness as an excuse," Newnham said.

"It is unconventional but he's a horse who it suits.

"He went from a mile to 2400 metres in the Metropolitan last preparation and ran the race of his life for a Group One placing.

"He has done plenty of work going into it."

Runner-up in the Moonee Valley and Sandown Cups last spring, Reuben Percival made an eye-catching return when he came from last to finish fifth to Said Com over an unsuitable 1400m at Rosehill on June 15.

Despite heavy rain in Sydney over the past week, the six-year-old was given a solid gallop at Randwick last Saturday to top off his fitness for this weekend.

"I was able to use the course proper last Saturday. They use two horses to test the ground (before a race meeting) and it was our turn so I made sure we used him," Newnham said.

"With all the wet weather, at least he's had that good, hard gallop last Saturday."

Nash Rawiller will partner Reuben Percival who has drawn the outside in the field of 11.

After receiving 143 final acceptances for Saturday's program, the Australian Turf Club decided to split the 1200m Benchmark 85 Handicap to create a nine-race card.

Healthy field sizes are the order of the day and Waterhouse is set to have 12 runners at the meeting and a particularly big hand in the final race.

Dual acceptor Charing Cross is likely to run over 1900m after being made second emergency for the Natski Handicap (1500m) but even in his absence Waterhouse will still have a quintet of runners.

"The last time we had five in the same race was when Pierro won the Golden Slipper," Newnham said.