Macknuckle has been doing the small stable of Bernie Howlett proud and the experienced horseman can't see any reason why the gelding won't make it a hat-trick of wins on Saturday at Rosehill.Howlett, a former top jockey whose career highlights include piloting Sharply to victory over the champion Tulloch in the 1961 Sydney Cup, has just six horses in work.Macknuckle will have his first go over 2400 metres in the Caravan and Camping Show Handicap and comes into the race after an easy win as a $26
Macknuckle has been doing the small stable of Bernie Howlett proud and the experienced horseman can't see any reason why the gelding won't make it a hat-trick of wins on Saturday at Rosehill.
Howlett, a former top jockey whose career highlights include piloting Sharply to victory over the champion Tulloch in the 1961 Sydney Cup, has just six horses in work.
Macknuckle will have his first go over 2400 metres in the Caravan and Camping Show Handicap and comes into the race after an easy win as a $26 chance at Randwick over 1800 metres on New Year's Day.
Before that he cruised to victory at Canberra over 2000 metres on December 14, turning in a performance which confirmed to Howlett the four-year-old had a future as a stayer.
"The ease with which he won that race was very encouraging and I have no doubts that he'll handle this trip on Saturday," Howlett said.
"He's still on the way up and I couldn't find a reason not to bring him back to Sydney and I'm expecting him to be hard to stop again."
The Moon Rocket gelding has won four of his 13 starts and been placed five times and Howlett said the horse had blossomed this campaign.
"He was racing greenly before that Canberra win but now he's starting to show that he's got those necessary racing instincts," Howlett said.
Rod Quinn will reunite with Macknuckle after their last start triumph.
"He's drawn barrier three which is perfect. Rod will have him just off the speed and he should get a charmed run and get a chance to finish off strongly," Howlett said.
Quinn also rides stablemate Wing Forward who runs in the Rosehill Events Handicap (1300m).
The consistent four-year-old has won four of his 10 starts and been placed a couple of times and comes into the race after running eighth to Smart Punch at Rosehill on December 10.
"He's got this bad habit of going too hard early and that's what happened to him last time. He was three-deep at the first bend but he still finished less than two lengths off the winner," Howlett said.
"Rod will hopefully get him a bit of cover from barrier eight and he can switch off. That's the key and if he does that he'll be in the finish.
"I'm going to Rosehill with two fit horses who I think are racing well, so it could be a good day for us."