Freegoing galloper Silky Smooth faces his first black-type test in Saturday's Chester Manifold Stakes while stablemate Growl is back from his second Hong Kong stint and will resume in the same race at Flemington.The David Hayes-trained Silky Smooth is out to complete a winning hat-trick after impressive 1400m victories, by 2-1/4 lengths at Sandown on November 22 and 5-1/2 lengths at Flemington on December 13."He went back to Lindsay Park for a couple of weeks for a freshen up after his last win,

Freegoing galloper Silky Smooth faces his first black-type test in Saturday's Chester Manifold Stakes while stablemate Growl is back from his second Hong Kong stint and will resume in the same race at Flemington.

The David Hayes-trained Silky Smooth is out to complete a winning hat-trick after impressive 1400m victories, by 2-1/4 lengths at Sandown on November 22 and 5-1/2 lengths at Flemington on December 13.

"He went back to Lindsay Park for a couple of weeks for a freshen up after his last win," Hayes' assistant trainer Gary Fennessy said.

"He's going well but this is a tougher field."

Hayes has taken the precaution of nominating the Rubiton four-year-old for the $1 million Newmarket Hcp (1200m) and the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m), both run at Flemington on March 7.

Silky Smooth, who goes into the Listed Chester Manifold (1410m) at the fifth run of his current preparation, has won four races with five second placings and a third from 14 starts.

The gelding, who will carry the minimum weight of 53kg, drew nicely in barrier two and will be ridden by Craig Williams.

Growl, who drew gate 13 in the 15-horse field, will be handled by Matt Pumpa.

The Montjeu six-year-old hasn't raced since ninth of 10 to Packing Winner in the Group One Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on May 25 last year.

The gelding made rapid improvement during the spring of 2006, winning the Listed D'Urban Quality (1700m) and the Group Two Winning Edge Presentations Stakes (2400m), both at Caulfield.

He failed in the Caulfield Cup that year, finishing 13th to stablemate Tawqeet, and after he was runner-up to Desert War in the Mackinnon Stakes was transferred to Hong Kong where he was unplaced in five runs before returning to Hayes at Flemington.

After two unplaced runs in Melbourne during the spring of 2007 he went back to Hong Kong where he was placed once in four outings, when third in the Group Three Memorial Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin in May last year.

"We had him going really well before he went back to Hong Kong again," Fennessy said.

"He didn't like being up all the time there.

"He's a good galloper but he has a bit of age on him now and he may take two or three runs before he regains his form.

"But it depends on how his time in Hong Kong affected him."

Silky Smooth is $4 favourite in TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market ahead of Orbit Express at $6, Count To Zero ($6.50), Scenic Silver ($7), Rok Posta ($8.50) with Master Craft next best at $10.

Growl is at $41.