He did it with Smokin' Joey and now Mornington trainer Wez Hunter is doing it with Our Smokin' Rock - turning potential into winning form.

While Smokin' Joey will start favourite in the $1 million Railway Stakes at Ascot this weekend, his stablemate and beach buddy Our Smokin' Rock is lining up for his third consecutive win since Hunter took over his training from Mick Price in October.

However, winning at Moonee Valley will be a lot harder than those two previous victories at Sale and Tatura.

Hunter says he took the five-year-old gelding to Tatura on October 26 because it looked the right race for his horse.

"We wanted to get his confidence back - he had learned how to lose and now we wanted him to learn how to win," Hunter said.

He is taking on his longest trip on Saturday - 2040 metres - but Hunter believes Our Smokin' Rock's front-running style will suit him well at Moonee Valley.

"He led when he won two starts ago and I'd be surprised if anything led him at the Valley, but if they did he could just sit off them," said Hunter.

Katelyn Mallyon has been aboard for both wins in the country and she encouraged Hunter to try Our Smokin' Rock at the longer distance, saying there was plenty left in the tank when he won over 1700m at Sale on November 8.

Hunter says there is no secret to his rejuvenation of horses that have come from city stables to his country property at Mornington.

"Horses get to a certain stage where they are just a lot happier outside - there is nothing magical about what we do," he said.

"They just go outside and play around after working in the morning."

His alternative-style of training includes regular visits to the beaches around the Mornington area.