Seven-year-old De Arias is looking to capitalise on his career-best form in the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.Trained by Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington, De Arias is untried at the distance of 2800m but the stable saw enough from him last start at Caulfield to be confident it won't be a problem for the son of Montjeu."He is racing as well as he can possibly go so we are giving him a whack at a decent race," Edwards said.This campaign De Arias has raced 14 times and was placed

Seven-year-old De Arias is looking to capitalise on his career-best form in the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.

Trained by Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington, De Arias is untried at the distance of 2800m but the stable saw enough from him last start at Caulfield to be confident it won't be a problem for the son of Montjeu.

"He is racing as well as he can possibly go so we are giving him a whack at a decent race," Edwards said.

This campaign De Arias has raced 14 times and was placed in both the Kyneton Cup and Traralgon's Latrobe Valley Cup before winning for the first time in 18 months over 2000 metres at Caulfield on December 4.

Edwards said De Arias' last run over 2400 metres at Caulfield when seventh to Rentarossa was an encouraging trial for the Bagot as he was blocked for a run from the 500m to the 300m.

"The race was quickening and he couldn't go anywhere," Edwards said.

"His jockey (Jamie Mott) said he couldn't get much momentum up but when he did get clear running he was very good going to the line.

"It gave us the impression he will get the 2800 metres and his breeding suggests that too.

"It is the first time he has put a lot of runs together and he is just going so well."

Edwards said De Arias would appreciate important weight relief on Saturday dropping from 58kg to 53.5kg.

"He is only a small horse and he doesn't really carry weight," he said.

"Dropping 4.5kg over that trip on Saturday is quite significant for him I think."

Dwayne Dunn will have his first ride on De Arias since winning on him at Caulfield three starts ago.

The Peter Moody-trained Macedonian (59kg) and Gotta Keep Cool (57kg) from the Darren Weir yard are the topweights and the form runners.

The Bagot has been a long-range goal for Macedonian who has won the The Lavazza Long Black (2800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day and the Sandown Cup (3200m) at his last two starts.

Gotta Keep Cool has beaten small fields at his last two starts in Adelaide but is a proven class stayer and winner of the 2009 Hobart Cup.