Trainer Mick Mair is unsure if Melbourne's heatwave will be an advantage for Queensland's Lightning Stakes hope Swiss Ace at Flemington on Saturday.Swiss Ace, last year's Brisbane winter discovery, is set for a showdown with Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler and defending champion Apache Cat in the 1000-metre Group One feature.Melbourne is in the grip of one of its driest and hottest Januaries in more than a century and temperatures of 40-plus degrees have been forecast for the remainder of the

Trainer Mick Mair is unsure if Melbourne's heatwave will be an advantage for Queensland's Lightning Stakes hope Swiss Ace at Flemington on Saturday.

Swiss Ace, last year's Brisbane winter discovery, is set for a showdown with Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler and defending champion Apache Cat in the 1000-metre Group One feature.

Melbourne is in the grip of one of its driest and hottest Januaries in more than a century and temperatures of 40-plus degrees have been forecast for the remainder of the week.

Swiss Ace is coping well with the heat well but Mair would prefer cooler weather for his underrated four-year-old.

"I'd prefer it to be cooler for all the horses but my bloke seems to be handling the heat well," Mair said.

"I'm not sure if the heat will be any advantage for him or not even though he's a Queenslander and is more accustomed to hot weather.

"After all his best form was in the winter last year."

Swiss Ace arrived by float in Melbourne last week and was given his first serious test in an 800-metre jumpout at Flemington on Tuesday.

"He went well and won the jumpout but there were only three in it," Mair said.

"I'm not sure of the exact time he ran but it was pretty quick and he beat Target and Swick."

Swiss Ace also won an 1100-metre jumpout on his home track at Caloundra prior to his departure for Melbourne.

The son of Secret Savings hasn't raced since finishing 15th to Mr Baritone in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm last June.

Despite his Stradbroke failure, Swiss Ace emerged from restricted ranks last year to become a major force during the Brisbane winter carnival.

He won three consecutive races, twice at Listed level in the Chief De Beers (1110m) at Doomben last March and Weetwood Handicap (1300m) at Toowoomba in April before his biggest victory in the Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

It was his ninth career victory before finishing third to Apache Cat in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 10 prior to his Stradbroke defeat.

Mair was buoyed by reports from regular rider Ken Pope who travelled to Melbourne to ride Swiss Ace in his jumpout.

"Ken was pretty excited and said he felt very good," Mair said.

"The horse felt nice and strong for him and I'm sure he won't be an outsider in the Lightning.

"He'll give a good account as he always goes well fresh but he won't be at his top.

Mair is yet to decide if Swiss Ace will run in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21 before his main mission in the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7.