A narrow Ranvet Stakes defeat for Rangirangdoo two years ago was the making of the horse as a genuine big-race performer.That's the opinion of his trainer Chris Waller ahead of the seven-year-old gelding's attempt to go one better stepping up to 2000m in the Group One feature at Rosehill on Saturday.Rangirangdoo has only raced sparingly since that defeat by Theseo during the 2010 autumn carnival, but the injury-plagued galloper came out at his next start to win the Doncaster Mile.He then returne

A narrow Ranvet Stakes defeat for Rangirangdoo two years ago was the making of the horse as a genuine big-race performer.

That's the opinion of his trainer Chris Waller ahead of the seven-year-old gelding's attempt to go one better stepping up to 2000m in the Group One feature at Rosehill on Saturday.

Rangirangdoo has only raced sparingly since that defeat by Theseo during the 2010 autumn carnival, but the injury-plagued galloper came out at his next start to win the Doncaster Mile.

He then returned from a lengthy layoff to claim the George Ryder Stakes second-up last year.

Prior to his 2010 Ranvet second, Rangirangdoo had also been denied by small margins in both the 2009 Epsom Handicap and 2010 Chipping Norton Stakes.

"That 2000-metre race at that time of his career was really the making of the horse," Waller said.

"It really hardened him up and made him a weight-for-age horse."

Rangirangdoo has been on the comeback trail from injury again this preparation but Waller saw positive signs in the Chipping Norton last start to suggest a bold showing can be expected in the Ranvet.

"That was the kind of Rangi of old," Waller said of the gelding's fourth in the Chipping Norton.

"And you would expect similar improvement again on Saturday.

"He's back and ready to fire. He's a year older, hopefully he comes back to where he was when he won the Doncaster. Up to that form he'd certainly be right in the race."

Rangirangdoo is one of three runners for Waller along with race favourite Shoot Out and Sydney Cup-bound Hawk Island.

Shoot Out is still the favoured runner of the Waller trio on the back of his Chipping Norton Stakes victory.

"Shoot Out is at that level and Rangi needs to get to that level again," Waller said.

"One is a five-year-old and the other is a seven-year-old. Rangi would have to get back to his best and Shoot Out would probably need to go just below his best.

"There's also others in the race that are going very well and the form from Melbourne looks strong."

Waller said the Ranvet was a natural progression for multiple Group One winner Shoot Out, who will revert to 1600m in the Doncaster next month after running in the 2000m event.

The premier trainer said Shoot Out was "as hard and fit as I would want to see him" for the Ranvet.

"He's ready to run a strong 2000 metres," he said.

Hawk Island finished third in the race last year but Waller admitted this year's renewal looked a little stronger.