Jim Conlan's patience with Larry's Never Late could be about to be rewarded with the gelding finally over injury issues which have severely restricted him for nearly two years.Conlan said Saturday's Group Three Victoria Handicap was an important stepping stone for the talented six-year-old who is being aimed at Sydney and Brisbane targets in the coming weeks.He said a searching gallop last Saturday against stable star and Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest has fuelled his enthusiasm for La

Jim Conlan's patience with Larry's Never Late could be about to be rewarded with the gelding finally over injury issues which have severely restricted him for nearly two years.

Conlan said Saturday's Group Three Victoria Handicap was an important stepping stone for the talented six-year-old who is being aimed at Sydney and Brisbane targets in the coming weeks.

He said a searching gallop last Saturday against stable star and Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest has fuelled his enthusiasm for Larry's Never Late's prospects this campaign.

He said while the 1400 metres of the Victoria Handicap was below Larry's Never Late's optimum distance, he still believes he will be finishing off the race strongly and hasn't ruled out an upset at $26 in the early TAB Sportsbet market.

"His work has been really good," Conlan said.

"He worked with Rekindled Interest the other day and Rekindled Interest doesn't loaf around. He makes him pull something out to get past him."

Conlan said Larry's Never Late was a stable favourite and is hoping that he can follow a similar path to another old favourite Above Deck who he trained to win Sydney's 2006 Listed JRA Plate and the 2006 Doomben Cup.

"I think given the right conditions he is going to have a nice preparation," Conlan said.

"I want to run him at Caulfield on Saturday with a view of getting him to Sydney for the JRA Plate (2000m) on April 21 and then on to either or both the Doomben Cup and the Brisbane Cup," Conlan said.

He said troublesome feet had restricted Larry's Never Late to just five starts since he took over his training from Rodney Douglas in the middle of 2010 and he was mindful of finding tracks with some give in them to ensure he stays sound.

He won his first start for Conlan, the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) in November 2010, but raced only twice last autumn and once in the spring.

Conlan said his first-up fourth in a Listed 1200-metre sprint at Moonee Valley on March 16 was the pipe-opener he needed for the Victoria Handicap.

"What he did at Moonee Valley is exactly what we needed to see him do," Conlan said.

"He's not a 1200-metre horse but he was finishing it off in the straight and he has come on from that race.

"He was really struggling to stay sound last preparation but we have got him right now, his feet are coping well with work and he's a very happy horse.

"I am sure he will run really well on Saturday but that race will bring him on again.

"He's a tough old horse and can stand up to a bit of racing now that he's right again."