Trainer Peter Gelagotis is still doing his homework on the competition in the Blue Diamond Preview as he weighs up whether to run Illustrious Lad in the Listed race at Caulfield.

The gelding has had only one start for one win in a 1000m race in Adelaide last month.

But it came with a penalty as Illustrious Lad was ordered back to the trials after bucking at the start.

"The win had merit on the grounds that he did everything wrong but in a 1000 metre race like the Preview you can't make those mistakes," Gelagotis said.

He said when Illustrious Lad trialled after the win his manners out of the gate improved 100 per cent.

But as Gelagotis runs a form line through the opposition, the only guide for his horse was in beating the David Hayes-trained Lotion at Sale. Lotion went on to run third behind the well-regarded Bugatty at Flemington on January 11.

If the trainer does pull the pin, Illustrious Lad will get his next chance the following week at Caulfield in the Group Three Chairman's Stakes.

"I might be over-analysing but I'm trying to pull the right reins," Gelagotis said.

"The horse is ready to go, it's just a matter of when we press the button."

Gelagotis said Group Three winner Hvasstan was back in work but would not be ready for the Group One Australian Cup (2000m) in March.

"We'll find a few weaker races to get his confidence back to where it should be and have him cherry ripe for the spring," Gelagotis said.

"We want to rebuild his CV because we missed the boat a little bit in the spring.

"We're very mindful the horse needs to win a Group One or Group Two, preferably over a mile, because that would cap him off as a stallion and a good breeding proposition being a Fastnet Rock."