A last start failure at Flemington by stakes-placed Hill Spy left Robert Smerdon scratching his head.

The trainer has since lowered his sights and is looking for the gelding to bounce back in a 1000m race at Sandown on Wednesday and show the form which earned him third place in the Group Three Vain Stakes last spring at his second start.

Hill Spy pleased Smerdon with his third first-up this campaign behind subsequent Group winner Miss Steele but then disappointed when seventh in a 1000m race against his own age on Anzac Day.

"Prior to Flemington everything was good. His trial had been good. His first-up run was good and then he went to Flemington and failed," Smerdon said.

"He didn't get any cover and he over-raced a bit but he was still very plain the last part and disappointing.

"We're looking for a turnaround."

Smerdon has since taken Hill Spy back to the trials to fill the gap between his latest start and Wednesday's assignment and the gelding finished second, albeit four lengths behind subsequent Caulfield winner Lord Of The Sky at Cranbourne last Monday.

"We still haven't been able to explain that run at Flemington so I suppose we're looking for a bit of evidence tomorrow to give us a bit of confidence going forward," Smerdon said.

"We're hoping he bounces back and puts it together and then we can make some plans for him."

Ben Melham rides Hill Spy in The Bushnell Outdoor Products Handicap, a race which will be a milestone occasion for 22-year-old apprentice Jessica Payne who has her first city ride in Melbourne on Hydro Force for her boss Wayne Nichols.

Payne's only previous metropolitan appearance was in an apprentices' invitation race in Perth last month but the 3kg-claiming rider has a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks.

She also rides another last start provincial winner Way Too Easy at Sandown while next month she will compete in France in an apprentices' only race after being selected as Australia's representative for the Prix Longines Future Rising Stars event at Chantilly.

The Sandown meeting will feature 10 races with two jumps races, which had been set down for Moe on Monday, moved to Wednesday's card.