An encouraging new year return from Star Of Octagonal has trainer Todd Howlett hopeful the gelding can return to some of the stakes-winning form of his three-year-old season.Star Of Octagonal will make the second appearance of his new campaign in Saturday's Goldners Horse Transport Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury provided Howlett is happy enough with the track rating on race morning.The five-year-old gelding finished third, four lengths behind winner Rain Affair, first-up in the Listed Carrington
An encouraging new year return from Star Of Octagonal has trainer Todd Howlett hopeful the gelding can return to some of the stakes-winning form of his three-year-old season.
Star Of Octagonal will make the second appearance of his new campaign in Saturday's Goldners Horse Transport Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury provided Howlett is happy enough with the track rating on race morning.
The five-year-old gelding finished third, four lengths behind winner Rain Affair, first-up in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) on January 2 at Warwick Farm.
It was his first stakes placing since he took out the Group Three South Pacific Classic at Randwick in April 2010.
"I'm hoping to run him tomorrow, I know it's not going to be a good rated track but I don't want it to be heavy either," Howlett said.
"I'm really happy with him and I thought his last run was good. Rain Affair ran a track record and he (Star Of Octagonal) was getting home so I was pleased with him. He's come on a bit since then as well.
"The horse is well and is ready to go, it's just the track that's my main concern."
Canterbury was rated in the slow range on Friday after 44mm of rain in the past week.
Star Of Octagonal was touted as a potential big race winner after his three-year-old season which netted wins in the South Pacific Classic and the $770,000 Scone Inglis Guineas.
He returned as a spring four-year-old and started favourite first-up in the Group Three Cameron Handicap only to finish last prompting the trainer to spell him again.
Star Of Octagonal raced seven times in 2011 in an autumn and winter campaign with his best results a fifth in the Group Three Sebring Stakes in April and a third in a Randwick Benchmark-95 in May.
"He was plagued a bit by heavy tracks a few times and doesn't really like them," Howlett said.
"Not a lot went right. I think he's matured a bit since then and I'm happy with him now."
Star Of Octagonal, to be ridden by veteran Robert Thompson, takes on a small but select field on Saturday with the John O'Shea-trained mare Steps In Time the $2 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
Steps In Time won the Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) during the Brisbane winter carnival and hasn't started since finishing down the track in the Group One Tatt's Tiara (1400m) in June.
The field also includes multiple stakes winner News Alert and multiple Group One winner Sniper's Bullet.
"It's only a small field but it's quite a strong race," Howlett said.