Stakeswinning gelding Playwright gets his chance to break a losing run stretching back nearly two years with his first test at 2000 metres at Flemington on Saturday.Trainer Steve Richards has always thought the five-year-old would run the journey but shorter big-race targets in previous campaigns overtaxed him before he got the chance.Richards said this preparation was specifically geared towards Playwright stepping up in distance and his last-start fifth to Bashful Girl in the Group Three Eclip

Stakeswinning gelding Playwright gets his chance to break a losing run stretching back nearly two years with his first test at 2000 metres at Flemington on Saturday.

Trainer Steve Richards has always thought the five-year-old would run the journey but shorter big-race targets in previous campaigns overtaxed him before he got the chance.

Richards said this preparation was specifically geared towards Playwright stepping up in distance and his last-start fifth to Bashful Girl in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield was a great trial for Saturday's Western Health Cup (2000m).

"We ran him in the Eclipse with this race in mind and he hit the line well enough last start to warrant giving him a try," Richards said.

"I have always thought he would get 2000 metres but he never had an opportunity because we had always set him for different races.

"Finally, we find out tomorrow if he can run it but the main thing is to get him back into winning form."

Playwright's last of three wins in 27 starts was the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in February 2008.

However he has always promised to deliver much more and as a three-year-old was Group One-placed when third in the Australian Guineas (1600m) and second in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (1600m).

Last autumn he was also second in the Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and third in the Group Three Carlyon Cup (1400m) at Caulfield.

Saturday's assignment will be Playwright's fifth run this campaign and Richards is planning to race him through the summer and possibly test him in even longer races.

"It is much better for him if he can run 2000 metres, but he might get further," Richards said.

Playwright has 56kg on Saturday and will again be ridden by his regular jockey Steven King.

Topweight with 59kg is the Clinton McDonald-trained Stormhill who has been freshened after a successful country Cups campaign in the spring.

The eight-year-old is having his first start since finishing ninth to Sterling Feature in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on November 7 and McDonald believes he can bounce back in the coming weeks.

"He will probably be in need of the run on Saturday but he is down in grade and will be very competitive," McDonald said.

Stormhill raced six times in the spring for two wins including the Benalla Gold Cup (2046m) on October 4.

He also finished second to Sermon in the Cranbourne Cup (2025m) and was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Leica Ding in the Geelong Cup (2406m).

"His bad run on paper was the Queen Elizabeth but he was only beaten six lengths and when they went at a ridiculous (fast) speed in front he had no hope of winning," McDonald said.

Stormhill likes to race on the pace and could head to Tasmania for the Hobart and Launceston Cups in February.

Shorter-term the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year's Day is an option while McDonald hasn't ruled out a trip to Sydney.

"He was only lightly raced in the spring and he is going too well to tip out," McDonald said.

"We will get through tomorrow and then decide what to do, but there are a lot of options for him."