Trainer John Moloney says Street Classic has stumbled into Winter Championship calculations with an encouraging start to his off-season campaign.The Dolphin Street gelding has won nine of his 36 starts and will make an 11th hour bid to qualify for next week's $200,000 feature in Saturday's final heat of the series over 1410m at Flemington."It wasn't a particular plan to run him as we thought the winter series might have been a little strong for him but he's been racing so well we decided to have

Trainer John Moloney says Street Classic has stumbled into Winter Championship calculations with an encouraging start to his off-season campaign.

The Dolphin Street gelding has won nine of his 36 starts and will make an 11th hour bid to qualify for next week's $200,000 feature in Saturday's final heat of the series over 1410m at Flemington.

"It wasn't a particular plan to run him as we thought the winter series might have been a little strong for him but he's been racing so well we decided to have a go at it," Moloney said.

"Really he was a midweek horse last campaign but he's come back with two really good runs and he has form around Winter Championship horses."

Stickpin, who last start finished fifth to Tasmanian Wealthy Lad at Sandown, is the $5 favourite for Saturday's heat while Street Classic, who was fourth in that race, is generously quoted by TAB Sportsbet at $14.

"We beat Stickpin home last start in a leader-dominated race and he (Stickpin) didn't make up any more ground than Street Classic," Moloney said.

Brian Mayfield-Smith has both Stickpin and former West Australian Famous Roman ($16) trying to qualify for the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington.

Mayfield-Smith said Stickpin would get his chance from barrier five and with Steven Arnold riding him.

"He's got a good barrier and jockey and he goes best when buried back in the field and gets room in the straight to make a late run," Mayfield-Smith said.

"The 58kg he has to carry is the main concern as he is not a big horse but he should run well if gets a bit of luck and a good run."

Mayfield-Smith said Famous Roman had been a hard horse to get fit since arriving from Perth but he has lifted his workload to bring him to his top.

He said his trackwork reflected the stakeswinning form he had in the west and Chris Symons will ride him on Saturday.

"He's had a couple of races now and I'm hoping that with the extra work I have given him he can step up to the plate," Mayfield-Smith said.

Among the other main chances are Ma Shang and Provincial Plate winner Woodwin who are both at $7.

Wealthy Lad is at $13 while Arenti and Tictacs, who chased him home into the placings last start, are $11 and $13 respectively.