Tried And Tired will be racing for a possible summer trip to Queensland when he returns to racing at Sandown.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained galloper is the top-weighted galloper in the Listed Doveton Stakes on Saturday.
Leon Corstens said the gelding, who hasn't raced since July, would benefit from Saturday's run despite having two trials under his belt.
"I'm pleased with him but he looks, what I would call, a bit dowdy," Corstens said.
"The weather has been a bit stupid recently, hot one day and the next day it's about two below and you think to yourself what's happened with this horse with his coat.
Tried And Tired won the Christmas Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day last year but Corstens said the more likely scenario would be to head to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions raceday on January 9.
He said the gelding's owner had nominated the six-year-old for Australia's richest raceday.
"He's got to show us that he's worth taking up there as it's a long way to go up there for nothing," Corstens said.
Tried and Tired has strong Sandown form and Corstens said 1000m on Saturday would be ideal.
Despite having to shoulder 60kg, Corstens isn't concerned with Tried And Tired having to carry top weight.
"I don't think that will worry him too much over the 1000 metres," Corstens said.
"I know in the past we haven't worried too much about all that and I've seen horses with similar ability to him win with a lot more weight."
Steven King, who has had a long association with Corstens over the years going back to the Let's Elope era when the trainer was foreman for Bart Cummings, will take the ride.