Trainer Robert Smerdon will turn back the clock nearly 30 years as Punctuate attempts to become the second Tasmanian galloper to win the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington.The three-year-old heads into Saturday's 1200-metre feature under similar circumstances to 1983 Creswick Stakes winner Bow Mistress who crossed Bass Strait with an impressive record of seven wins from 14 starts.The Creswick was Bow Mistress' first mainland run when she joined Bruce Elkington's stable near Geelong and she wen

Trainer Robert Smerdon will turn back the clock nearly 30 years as Punctuate attempts to become the second Tasmanian galloper to win the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington.

The three-year-old heads into Saturday's 1200-metre feature under similar circumstances to 1983 Creswick Stakes winner Bow Mistress who crossed Bass Strait with an impressive record of seven wins from 14 starts.

The Creswick was Bow Mistress' first mainland run when she joined Bruce Elkington's stable near Geelong and she went on to win a Liston Stakes and be placed in an Oakleigh Plate and Linlithgow Stakes.

Punctuate has a long way to go to reach those heights but the signs so far are encouraging.

Formerly trained by David and Scott Brunton, he won five of his six starts in Tasmania and was transferred to Smerdon after drawing wide and finishing fifth to Creswick Stakes equal topweight General Truce on a slow track at Caulfield on May 28.

Smerdon's other Creswick runner Enzed Girl finished 11th in the same race.

Smerdon said Punctuate had been untried on tracks worse than dead until last start and that "the jury was still out" on whether he is suited on rain-affected ground.

"This is a class test and a ground test for him," Smerdon said, referring to this week's wet weather in Melbourne.

"He should have nearly been unbeaten coming across here and it was a good run in a tough race at Caulfield.

"There is question mark about whether he really handled the going 100 per cent last time but he's a nice horse with good form."

Enzed Girl is adaptable in all conditions and is proven at stakes level, although she will need to lift on recent form in a field of 18 on Saturday.

"She has been stakes-placed twice but this is no easy task," Smerdon said.

In Brisbane last winter Enzed Girl was beaten in a photo-finish when second in the Listed Lancaster Stakes and at her next run was third to Panipique and Crystal Lily in the Listed Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

"She has been thereabouts at this level and this is her chance," Smerdon said.