Wangaratta trainer John Ledger is confident he has smart sprinter Mind Your Head going as well as he was last summer in preparation for a return to his favourite track in the Listed Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.Last campaign Mind Your Head won the Listed Christmas Stakes and the Group Three Rubiton Stakes at the track.His winning jockey Mark Pegus, fresh from a Las Vegas holiday will again be in the saddle for Saturday's first-up assignment.Ledger said the Monash and the Group Three Bletch

Wangaratta trainer John Ledger is confident he has smart sprinter Mind Your Head going as well as he was last summer in preparation for a return to his favourite track in the Listed Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Last campaign Mind Your Head won the Listed Christmas Stakes and the Group Three Rubiton Stakes at the track.

His winning jockey Mark Pegus, fresh from a Las Vegas holiday will again be in the saddle for Saturday's first-up assignment.

Ledger said the Monash and the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two weeks later formed a two-race plan leading in to the spring for the rising seven-year-old.

"He loves being fresh, loves some cut in the track where it is slow or dead and Mark (Pegus) knows him so well," Ledger said.

"There is still improvement in him as we haven't wrung him out for his first up run but he has done a lot of work and I'm really happy with him."

Mind Your Head won the first three of his five summer starts but struggled for form at Moonee Valley when he rose in grade and finished fourth to Lucky Secret in the Group Two Carlyon Stakes (1200m) and last in Apache Cat's Group One Australia Stakes (1200m) on February 14.

Leger said Mind Your Head was not suited to Moonee Valley and was dismissive of his performance in the Australia Stakes when beaten 15 lengths.

"He hates the Valley and he never let down at all," Ledger said.

"He was okay when he came home and didn't have any issues but we backed off him and gave him a good long break to bring him back for these races now."

Ledger said the key was keeping Mind Your Head interested in his training and to that end he has worked him in the bush and up the hills of a nearby farm.

"He's not the sort of horse you can take to the track every day," Ledger said.

"Mentally it helps him if you change his routine and he has spent a lot of time out in the bush as well as doing a lot of hill work."

Back at the track at Wangaratta on Tuesday morning, Mind You Head indicated to Ledger that he was ready for the Monash.

"I liked what I saw this morning," Ledger said. "He pulled up really well after a strong half mile."

The Monash holds plenty of interest with lightly raced Goodwood Handicap runner-up I Am Invincible, in-form Gran Sasso, Group One winner Orange County and high speed Group winning filly Damselfly, who will be ridden by Damien Oliver, among the 17 nominations.