Trainer Jason Clifford is looking to gain some momentum after a virus swept through his stables with Matinello and Forbidden Quest running at Caulfield on Saturday.Clifford, who relocated from Huonville in Tasmania to Geelong, has 19 horses in work but due to the virus setback he has managed to have just nine runners since the start of April."They've all had it. That's why I didn't have any runners for a month," he said.Clifford broke though for his first win since his move when lightly-raced ma

Trainer Jason Clifford is looking to gain some momentum after a virus swept through his stables with Matinello and Forbidden Quest running at Caulfield on Saturday.

Clifford, who relocated from Huonville in Tasmania to Geelong, has 19 horses in work but due to the virus setback he has managed to have just nine runners since the start of April.

"They've all had it. That's why I didn't have any runners for a month," he said.

Clifford broke though for his first win since his move when lightly-raced mare Huon Cry won at Geelong last Friday.

Yule Luvit and Delighted Owners both ran second at Geelong while Rocky Times finished third to Dubleanny in last Saturday's Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.

Matinello, who has won 10 races from 21 starts in Tasmania, was scratched from the Straight Six but will contest Saturday's ALH Group Plate (1000m) which will be his first run in 2-1/2 years.

Forbidden Quest, who was also scratched from Flemington last Saturday, will run in the Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Cup (1600m).

"Matinello needs give in the track so I didn't want to take the risk of the track drying out too much at Flemington being a sunny day," Clifford said.

"He's going really well. He's got a lot of ability. He hasn't raced for a couple of years due to an injury to his foot but we seem to have fixed that problem now.

"He was one of the best gallopers in Tasmania a couple of years back."

Now an eight-year-old, the Matsqui gelding's last start was a fifth to Scenic Silver in the Listed Tasmanian Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Launceston in November 2008.

His wins have been from 1100m to 1400m.

"He's a smart horse, he just needs a bit of give in the track and he'll be right to go," Clifford said.

"He's a winter horse and will probably go into some of the winter championship races."

Clifford said Forbidden Quest, who has won 11 of his 44 starts, would step up to a more suitable 2000m race after Saturday.

"I scratched him from Flemington because he jarred his joint when he trialled at Geelong last Wednesday and I thought it was safer to wait a week," he said.

"He's getting older now and he's got a few niggly little problems.

"He doesn't like the wet that much so he might have one or two starts before he goes out and comes back for country races over the spring."

The West Quest seven-year-old, an 1800m winner at Sandown in April last year, beat Bendigo Cup winner Dream Pedlar when he won the weight-for-age Ingham Jockey Club Cup (2100m) at Hobart four starts back in February.

Darren Gauci will ride Matinello while Talia Rodder has been engaged for Forbidden Quest.

The Caulfield track is rated slow (6) and the rail is out 12 metres.