Trainer Gary Quinlan expects Professor Tom to “be amongst it” when he steps out for his first country cups shot in the Barham Insurance Advisers Stawell Pacing Cup on Sunday.

Quinlan will make the eight-hour round trip from Drouin for the horse, who will be looking to build on his last up third placing in the Nevele R Stud Pace at Melton on November 23.

With the focus on the TAB Inter Dominion series for a number of the top horses, Quinlan said the Stawell Cup was the perfect time to “throw him in and see how he goes” against a free-for-all class, with the $40,000 purse on offer too tempting to pass up.

“The Geelong Cup was $50,000, and there’s $40,000 there (at Stawell). It’s a pretty good effort by the club,” he said.

He said the 2600m distance would suit the six-year-old - despite a tricky gate 7 draw - who had showed he could match it with the best when he ran second in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series four-year-old final behind Soho Tribecca in 2017. 

"(The draw) is (a tricky one) but he’ll just go straight back,” Quinland said. “But if they run he can sit off the speed and then get home, so that’s what we’re going to rely on.

“If he goes his best, he’ll be amongst it. I’m not saying he’s a certainty or anything, but he’ll acquit himself pretty well.”

Quinlan said he’d use the race to decide whether Professor Tom would play a bigger part in the Trots Country Cups Championship series.

“We’ll dip his toe in Sunday and see how he handles it,” he said. “If he goes well enough we’ll progress him. He’s only M1 so he can drop back to that if we need to. But I think he’ll do alright.”

He will be joined by Rackemup Tigerpie in the race, who is fresh from a win in the Gunbower Family Hotel Pacing Cup. The four-year-old gelding will step out from inside the second line for trainer-driver Michael Stanley in search of more Trots Country Cups Championship points, while Emma Stewart’s recent addition Mad Robber will attempt to replicate its last start win against similar class.

The Renown Silverware Stawell Trotters Cup, a standing start over 2600m, will be a chance for Savannah Jay Jay to further prove his standing coming off victory in the St Arnaud Trotting Cup and unlucky to miss a TAB Inter Dominion start, having been second emergency.

Deltasun, who will start the trotters cup from gate three, may well carry plenty of fans, being trained and owned in nearby Ararat by Terry and Alison Young.

All the action kicks off at the Stawell track at 78 Patrick St on Sunday at 11am. As well as an eight-card race there will be live music from Olly and Gordo, a visit by Santa and children’s activities including a V8 Simulator, laser challenge and jumping castle.

Details: http://www.trotscountry.com.au/meeting/stawell/

It will also be a massive three-tiered edition of the Good Form Grassroots Gold, with the Stawell Swifts and tennis and pony clubs all to benefit. Click here for more details.

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