Trainer Caspar Fownes has sounded a note of caution over the prospects of his world-ranked sprinter Lucky Nine in his Australian debut later this month after the horse pulled up "big" following a gallop on Tuesday.

Lucky Nine is scheduled to run in Friday week's Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, but his latest gallop suggests the horse could be short of his peak for the Group One race.

But the trainer is expecting a lot more in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9.

"We're looking forward to him running a really big race first-up," Fownes said.

"But I think second-up we'll see the real horse."

Lucky Nine came out of quarantine last weekend and Fownes took him to the Valley on Tuesday to familiarise him with the track.

The seven-year-old had a 1200m trial out of the starting gates along with the imported stayer Crackerjack King and a couple of other moderately performed David Hayes-trained runners, accounting for them well without being over-impressive.

Fownes and rider Brett Prebble said the horse needed the hit-out.

"He's had a decent blow after it, so hopefully that'll have him a bit fitter," Fownes said.

"Fitness has always been a concern because I've let him come to Australia and find his feet and haven't squeezed him yet. He's only had a couple of gallops."

Lucky Nine ran the 1200m on a slow track in 1m11.2sec with Prebble taking it easy on him in the final 150m.

"I pulled him out three deep to give him room and get him onto his right leg and he handled it well .... changed legs off the turn and had a good look around," he said.

"He'll come on from that. He'll have another piece of work and I'd say and that'll be him.

"He's a very versatile horse. He can lead, he can sit last, he can do whatever. He can go on any surface wet, dry, he goes on sand, synthetic ...

"He's just a real hardy horse who's got a big heart."

Lucky Nine is Hong Kong's highest-rated sprinter and is among the top three in the world rankings.

He's won away from home, taking the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore with Prebble aboard at his latest outing and has raced well in three other countries before coming to Australia.