Trainer Michael Stanley has a new star on the property at Burrumbeet with former New Zealander Smokin By set for a short hit-and-run mission in Victoria.

The son of Mach Three will kick-off what is likely to be only a two-run preparation for Stanley in this Saturday night’s IRT Australia Markovina Free For All (2240m) at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Stanley said he obtained Smokin By, pictured with his partner Genevieve Browne, due to a racing restriction in New South Wales, where he will return and race in the coming weeks.

“He’s a horse we were lucky to get. We were just in the right place at the right time," Stanley said. "He was supposed to be in NSW, but just with the new rules there he had an embargo and wasn’t allowed to race under their system for 28 days or so.

“The owners still own him from New Zealand and they didn’t want him sitting in a box for a month so they’ve sent him down. I was lucky enough to be the one that got the chance to take over.”

Smokin By contested some big races overseas last year, including the prestigious New Zealand Trotting Cup, where he placed 12th.

Formerly trained by Mitchell Kerr, the horse arrives in Australia with a record of seven wins from 24 career starts, but hasn’t been seen on raceday since late December last year.

“He’s raced in some high-class races back in his homeland and I’m sure if he acquits himself well this weekend, the four and five-year-old championships (City of Melton Plate) in a fortnight will be a really good aim for him,” Stanley said.

Stanley will take the drive of Smokin By, who has drawn barrier six for Saturday night’s Free For All. South Australian Pacing Cup champion Pat Stanley, for trainer-driver Kerryn Manning, looks to be Smokin By’s main rival, but has to contend with gate 10.

The Stanley stable has already produced four individual two-year-old winners this season and looks to have a good chance of making that five when debutant Drain The Swamp steps out at Melton in the Breckon Farms Sapling Stakes (2YO Colts and Geldings, 1720m).

A son of Somebeachsomewhere, the bay colt is out of Bettors Delight mare Vickymurphy.

Stanley said Drain The Swamp had trialled impressively in the lead-up to his first assignment.

“His second one, he was a lot sharper and actually trailed against the three-year-olds. The horse that beat him in that trial came out and won at Kilmore really impressively,” he said. “I think he’ll be right in this race that’s for sure.”

Stanley-trained American Zest was a last-start winner at Melton and will be out to make it two on the trot in the Donalds Winners On Facebook Pace (2240m, NR 80-94).

The first of 10 races at Victorian headquarters kicks off at 6.33pm, with the last to go at 10.55pm.

TIM O'CONNOR CHATS WITH MICK STANLEY AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S RACING: