When bush trainer Jeremy Sylvester took a $5000 punt on a tried horse struggling for form, he also took a gamble on himself.

Sylvester, who trains on a property outside the NSW Hunter Valley town of Cessnock, saw both opportunity and challenge when former Lloyd Williams-owned galloper Collar was offered for auction at a Gold Coast sale last year.

Group Two placed behind Manawanui as a spring three-year-old, Collar's career was interrupted by an 18-month lay-off before he came to Sylvester's attention.

He needed a throat operation and had some niggling issues but Sylvester backed himself to overcome those and reinvigorate the horse's racing career.

"I don't mind getting tried horses. It's a challenge trying to get into their heads," Sylvester said.

"He's only had one prep for me and he has earned over $40,000 so it has been a bit of fun."

Collar was bought with country Cups aspirations and took out the Gunnedah Cup three starts ago.

He was given a short break after finishing down the track in the Scone Cup and will use Saturday's Shoot Out Handicap (1600m) at Randwick as a stepping stone towards the Coffs Harbour, Taree and Port Macquarie Cups.

But that's not to say Sylvester doesn't rate his chances of giving some cheek in the city.

"He will for sure," he said.

"There are easier races for him down the track but it's a matter of finding those races and sometimes you've just got to go up against the bigger stables."

Collar will meet four rivals from the all-conquering Chris Waller yard on Saturday along with the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Laidback Larry.

The Sylvester-trained Youthful King will join his stablemate at Randwick to tackle the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1300m).

The eight-year-old won his third Jungle Juice Cup last start to give jockey-of-the-moment Robert Thompson his 10th win in the race and Sylvester his seventh.

Sylvester will also be represented at Doomben by rising 10-year-old Buckmoore who has been scratched from his Sydney assignment and will be lining up for his 103rd start.