An unscheduled but compulsory barrier trial hit-out could work in favour of Nightofthegeneral, rated by his trainer as better than an outside chance in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Wednesday.A talented sprinter who races on the burly side, stewards ordered Nightofthegeneral to trial after he blew his chances when he missed the start badly in the June Stakes.The four-year-old lined up in a Rosehill trial three days after his Randwick blunder and completed his assignment without a hitc

An unscheduled but compulsory barrier trial hit-out could work in favour of Nightofthegeneral, rated by his trainer as better than an outside chance in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Wednesday.

A talented sprinter who races on the burly side, stewards ordered Nightofthegeneral to trial after he blew his chances when he missed the start badly in the June Stakes.

The four-year-old lined up in a Rosehill trial three days after his Randwick blunder and completed his assignment without a hitch.

"He only reared at the start in the June Stakes because he had been standing in the gates for too long and the horse alongside him started to play up," co-trainer Ross Simpson said.

"He's not a barrier rogue by any means. It was a one-off for him ... at least I'm hoping it is.

"Having a trial was certainly not in his program but if anything they (the stewards) might have done him a favour.

"He's a real heavy horse and the hit-out, while he wasn't extended, has done him the world of good."

Nightofthegeneral conceded the June Stakes field 10 lengths start but still managed to issue a short claim before finishing towards the tail of the field.

"I had to look twice when I saw him still trying to get into the race on the turn," Simpson, who trains the sprinter in partnership with Tracy Barnes, said.

"He ran a terrific race under the circumstances. It was good enough to say he isn't out of the race."

Nightofthegeneral has drawn towards the outside of the Pacesetter field in gate eight.

Corey Brown takes the ride after partnering the sprinter in the Rosehill trial.

In a field of 11, topweight and likely pre-post favourite Border Rebel, has drawn perfectly in barrier one.

Border Rebel will take his place in the Listed race after missing a run in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Trainer John McNair confirmed starts for two runners after accepting with former West Australian Hay List and Saturday's Rosehill winner My Vegas.

Hay List will race in winkers instead of blinkers after an impressive introduction to eastern states racing with his June Stakes placing.

The Gosford track was rated a dead (5) at acceptance time on Monday morning.

The feature race is named in honour of champion sprinter Takeover Target who will be making an appearance at the track on Wednesday.

The Pacesetter was Takeover Target's first black type win and set him on the path to his spectacular Group One career in Australia and overseas.