Oddly-named gelding Hiphopopotamus will get the chance to show his potential in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington.Trainer Mike Moroney regards the five-year-old as an emerging stayer and believes the Ramsden could be the springboard to much better races in the future for the gelding."He's a consistent horse but is still 12 months away from being at his best," Moroney's racing manager Anthony Feroce said.A winner of three of 25 starts, the son of Ustinov is in career best form with v

Oddly-named gelding Hiphopopotamus will get the chance to show his potential in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington.

Trainer Mike Moroney regards the five-year-old as an emerging stayer and believes the Ramsden could be the springboard to much better races in the future for the gelding.

"He's a consistent horse but is still 12 months away from being at his best," Moroney's racing manager Anthony Feroce said.

A winner of three of 25 starts, the son of Ustinov is in career best form with victories at Bendigo over 2400 metres and Moonee Valley over 3000 metres in his past five runs.

The stable was particularly encouraged by his last start fourth to Rusticated when he ran home strongly and was beaten four lengths in the Cleanevent Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on May 7.

"He is a nice stayer on his way," Feroce said.

"He has taken a bit of time but he ran well the other day and he will get the two miles."

Many of the horses he met last start will also line up in Saturday's Ramsden (3200m).

"It is going to be strong race but he will race on the speed and he will run well," Feroce said.

Hiphopopotamus has a strong staying pedigree.

His dam Down And Up was a 1600m winner but more notably his unraced second dam Rulamede was a half sister to Kythera who was third to Van Der Hum and Gold And Black in the 1976 Melbourne Cup.

Hiphopopotamus will spearhead a team of in-form gallopers for Moroney at Flemington on Saturday.

Exciting two-year-old African Pulse and lightly raced English mare Park View look strong prospects at the meeting after they both won at Sandown last Wednesday.

African Pulse was an impressive debut winner while Park View is unbeaten in Australia after two runs.