Trainer Liam Birchley is hopeful Sarge In Charge can show he's made a full recovery from mental scarring following a leg injury when the colt runs at Doomben on Wednesday.Sarge In Charge, who will line up in the Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap (1200m), struggled with a leg muscle tear during the Brisbane winter carnival before making a winning comeback at Caloundra last month.The three-year-old injured himself when fifth to Facile Tigre in the Listed Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast in M

Trainer Liam Birchley is hopeful Sarge In Charge can show he's made a full recovery from mental scarring following a leg injury when the colt runs at Doomben on Wednesday.

Sarge In Charge, who will line up in the Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap (1200m), struggled with a leg muscle tear during the Brisbane winter carnival before making a winning comeback at Caloundra last month.

The three-year-old injured himself when fifth to Facile Tigre in the Listed Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast in May.

Birchley carefully managed Sarge In Charge's injury for the remainder of his winter campaign but it was to no avail with the son of Golan failing in his subsequent three starts including the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Sarge In Charge, who was a luckless second in the Listed Karaka Million at Ellerslie in January, bounced back to his best form when he resumed in a Class Three Plate (1000m) at Caloundra on October 29.

Birchley was pleased with Sarge in Charge's victory but was not fully convinced his rehabilitation was complete.

"His type of injury is a bit like a hamstring tear," Birchley said.

"He was never fully right for the winter.

"We thought we had fixed it but he never had the confidence to stretch out fully.

"I gave him a good spell, but I'm still a little hesitant with him."

Birchley is confident Sarge In Charge will again be competitive on Wednesday before planning a gradual step up in distance later this campaign.

"He didn't win by very far at Caloundra, but it was a lot stronger field than I had expected for him first-up," he said.

"He's bred to get further so I'm just going to take him through his grades and step him up in distance.

"But I'd like to see him stretch out a bit more to see if his confidence is back."

Michael Cahill will have the riding duties on Sarge In Charge, replacing the suspended Glen Colless.