Ken Fythe is hoping Rockpecker can pay the stable's winter carnival expenses before the hobby trainer returns home to his real job in country Victoria following the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.Fythe, who resembles legendary bushranger Ned Kelly with his lengthy beard, originally brought Rockpecker to Queensland for the major winter sprints, the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap.However, Rockpecker's winter mission was thrown into turmoil after he was injured when 13th to Court

Ken Fythe is hoping Rockpecker can pay the stable's winter carnival expenses before the hobby trainer returns home to his real job in country Victoria following the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.

Fythe, who resembles legendary bushranger Ned Kelly with his lengthy beard, originally brought Rockpecker to Queensland for the major winter sprints, the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap.

However, Rockpecker's winter mission was thrown into turmoil after he was injured when 13th to Court Command in the Group Three BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben in May.

Fythe was then forced to redirect the five-year-old's campaign towards the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1300m) at Caloundra last month and Saturday's 1300-metre feature on the new Cushion track at Toowoomba.

"He was badly galloped on and then he got an infection in the leg after he ran in the BTC Sprint," Fythe said.

"He also developed a foot abscess and it only broke out after he came off antibiotics he was on for the leg infection.

"I brought him up here for the Stradbroke and Doomben 10,000 but he had to miss them both."

Fythe doesn't mind the comparisons with Australia's infamous bushranger and is confident Rockpecker can win Saturday's $150,000 sprint.

"I'm often compared to him (Ned Kelly). I get it all the time in Melbourne," said 56-year-old Fythe.

"I've had this beard for about five years but I do shave it off every now and then."

Fythe has only five horses in work at Stony Creek in Victoria and also brought stablemate Don't Look Ethol north for the winter.

Don't Look Ethol had five starts in Queensland but her only prizemoney cheques came from two fourths, in her first appearance at Caloundra in April and at her last start at Doomben last month.

"I'm only a hobby trainer and I'm going back home next Wednesday as I've got to get back to work," he said.

Fythe and his wife Sue run a garden maintenance business at Foster, about 25 kilometres from his stables at Stony Creek south-east of Melbourne.

Fythe believes Rockpecker should already have paid the bills for his Queensland trip following his last start second to Lucky Luna in the Glasshouse Handicap.

"It was an excellent run and he should nearly have won," Fythe said.

"He got to the front too soon and was a sitting duck for the winner.

"Caloundra has a big straight and he had no other option but to hit the front after the leader (Abirra) fell in a hole."

Fythe is unconcerned with Rockpecker racing for the first time on a synthetic surface and has retained last start rider Damian Browne.

"He works on the Cushion track every day at Caloundra so it won't be a problem," he said.

"This horse will adapt to anything. He'll go for a one month break after this and I'll get him ready for some of the bigger sprints during the spring in Melbourne."