Publishing will have to carry five kilograms more than a year ago to make it back-to-back wins in the Standish Handicap.The five-year-old would be only the sixth horse and the first in 58 years to win the feature summer sprint in successive years but faces a much harder task with his handicap lifted from 53kg to 58kg for Thursday's 1200-metre feature at Flemington.Jockey Steven Arnold has been booked for the mount and if successful Publishing would be his third winner in the Group Three race and

Publishing will have to carry five kilograms more than a year ago to make it back-to-back wins in the Standish Handicap.

The five-year-old would be only the sixth horse and the first in 58 years to win the feature summer sprint in successive years but faces a much harder task with his handicap lifted from 53kg to 58kg for Thursday's 1200-metre feature at Flemington.

Jockey Steven Arnold has been booked for the mount and if successful Publishing would be his third winner in the Group Three race and also the third for trainer John Sadler.

Owner Lloyd Williams said Publishing had freshened up nicely from his last start two months ago and expects he will run well despite the big weight.

"The weights are up but he will he will run okay," Williams said.

Publishing hasn't started since finishing ninth to Hot Danish down the straight in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

The two-month break between runs won't be an issue for the gelding who won the Standish last year with seven weeks between runs.

"He's had pretty much the same break as last year going into the Standish and he is fit enough to win," Williams said.

Publishing hasn't been pushed since his Standish win a year ago, racing just seven times.

Publishing enjoys the straight course and he had plenty of practice in the spring with a half-length fourth to Bon Hoffa in the Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) while he finished just over a length behind El Cambio in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes (1200m).

Williams said Publishing was disappointing in the Salinger Stakes when beaten five lengths after four weeks between runs.

"It was an ordinary run in the Salinger and there were no excuses," he said.

"He is in good order at the moment and a bit better fresher this time."

Itsamonty (57.5kg) and Orbit Express (56kg) who were third and second respectively in last Friday's Christmas Stakes at Caulfield, are the only other Standish nominations weighted above 54.5kg.

Ungar was the last of six horses to win the Standish in successive years in 1950-51 while Super Impressive was the last of four horses to win the race in split years in 2003 and 2005. Both times he carried 58kg.

Arnold's previous Standish wins were on Super Impressive in 2005 and Iglesia in 2001 while Sadler won with Jolly Old Mac (1992) before Publishing's win.