Steve Englebrecht is hoping to take Malavio on the same path he trod with Referral 14 years ago but fears the handicappers might foil his plans.

Malavio will line up in Saturday's Men Of League Central Coast Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill with equal top weight of 59kg - a four kilo rise on his last start win.

Englebrecht decided against utilising a claiming apprentice to reduce the burden but admitted the significant weight rise was cause for concern.

"He's not really a kids' horse at the moment," Englebrecht said of his decision to stick with senior rider Nathan Berry.

"I am concerned about the 59 kilos. I think he's badly handicapped under the benchmark system.

"The horse that ran second to us (Isopach) has only gone up one-and-a-half kilos and I'm up four."

Englebrecht would like to aim Malavio towards next month's Hawkesbury Cup and the Villiers Stakes in December.

It's a double he claimed with Referral in 1998 before that gelding went on to join the ranks of Group One winners with a George Ryder Stakes victory the following autumn.

However, Englebrecht is now concerned Malavio might be asked to carry too much weight in those races.

"He is a big strong horse and he can probably carry the weight," he said.

"My concern was if he got that in an ordinary handicap they could make him topweight in a good race, a Hawkesbury Cup or a Villiers, and that's a bit concerning."

Malavio is yet to be tested over the 1600m journey of the Hawkesbury Cup and Villiers but he is proven at the 1400m of Saturday's assignment.

The four-year-old will have to deal with a wide barrier after drawing gate 10 in the 13-horse field and Englebrecht says it has all but forced their hand tactically.

"He will probably have to go back from the alley," he said.

"That's made it more difficult as well."

On the plus side, Englebrecht can see some similarities between Malavio and his former star Referral.

While he rates them very different types of horses he says they share a couple of common attributes.

"Probably their work ethic," he said.

"They both work very well but would only do what they had to do.

"Also, this horse has, and the other horse had, a great will to win.

Malavio is one of four horses on 59kg in Saturday's race along with Pureness, Riomoral and Tromso.