Flemington straight tilt for McGaw

A winner at his only two starts as a two-year-old, McGaw was placed at his three-year-old season debut when second at Caulfield last month. 

Now McGaw heads to the Listed Schweppes Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday looking to get back into winning form, although Emma-Lee Browne is a little cautious. 

McGaw finished second to Tycoon Star when resuming at Caulfield over 1200m and while dropping back to 1100m is not a concern, the two-week back-up is playing on the trainer's mind. 

"We were actually rapt with the first-up run," Browne said. 

"He probably did a little bit too much early and I thought as they straightened up his (lack of) fitness might kick in here, but he was really game to hang on. 

"I think he's come on, but a little question mark, we've never raced him two weeks apart. He was about six weeks between his first and second starts when he won The Showdown. 

"He seems fine. He went home after a hard run like that, and we thought he would have left something, but he ate everything, and he's been perfect since." 

Browne said the stable resisted the temptation to go to 1400m as McGaw is a free going gelding and it gives them the opportunity to assess whether he will be suited racing up the straight. 

She said it should not pose a problem as McGaw's jump-outs are usually on a straight course at Pakenham. 

"Because we trial down the back a lot at Pakenham and up the rise track, I'm hoping that won't be a problem, but you don't know until you're out there," Browne said. 

"We decided to drop back because he went so hard early rather than go up in distance to the 1400 (metres). He's a gelding, so there's plenty of time for that. 

"He's probably still a bit wintry in the coat, it looks a bit patchy, but he's starting to get there, and we think he'll run well again."