Trainer Heath Conners has the Cox Plate pencilled in for consistent galloper Chasm if his first two runs this campaign go to plan."I am very excited about him," said Conners who will saddle up the five-year-old for his spring debut in Saturday's Group Three Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1200m) at Flemington as a prelude to the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19.Conners said Chasm's monster frame was even bigger than last season and that the gelding was ready

Trainer Heath Conners has the Cox Plate pencilled in for consistent galloper Chasm if his first two runs this campaign go to plan.

"I am very excited about him," said Conners who will saddle up the five-year-old for his spring debut in Saturday's Group Three Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1200m) at Flemington as a prelude to the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19.

Conners said Chasm's monster frame was even bigger than last season and that the gelding was ready to take off.

"It is hard to believe but he is bigger and stronger now and he has gone very nicely in his two jumpouts leading up to this," he said.

"Last Tuesday was probably the most impressive (jumpout) he has had since I got him and I would like to see what sectionals he runs in his last couple of furlongs on Saturday.

"There are a lot of good horses in the race but they are probably not 1200-metre horses where he (Chasm) has won first-up, and won impressively first-up.

"You would think the straight would suit him as he is a horse who bounces out and relaxes nice and quietly back in the field."

Mindful of the new "protective" whip rules which are now in force across the country, Conners has engaged Noel Callow for his vigorous riding style to get the best out of Chasm.

He is hopeful that Callow will ride Chasm in the Rupert Clarke which would ultimately decide the direction the gelding would go for the remainder of the spring.

"If he happens to win the Group One (Rupert Clarke) second-up then we would probably target the Cox Plate with him," Conners said.

"It is everybody's dream and I know it is a dream but the horse has won over a mile (1600m) and he has a got an incredibly good turn of foot."

Conners said the alternative to the Cox Plate (2040m) was a path to the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 7.

Chasm has won eight of his 18 starts including the Listed Auckland Racing Club Handicap (1610m) at Flemington on Anzac Day. He also won the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) in November.

"I don't think we have seen the best of him yet," Conners said.

Cox Plate winner Maldivian resumes in the sprint and, lugging 60kg, has Damien Oliver in the saddle.

He hasn't raced since a back injury ended his autumn campaign following his win in the Group One Orr Stakes in the autumn.