James Winks will have to produce a gun ride from his wide draw if Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm is to claim Saturday's Group One Emirates Stakes at Flemington with Trusting.Winks said trainer John Thompson and connections usually left race tactics up to their jockeys and he envisaged going forward as long as Trusting jumped well from gate 17.The jockey is looking for a bold showing from the Tale Of The Cat four-year-old who is dropping back to the more favourable 1600m trip after failing behind

James Winks will have to produce a gun ride from his wide draw if Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm is to claim Saturday's Group One Emirates Stakes at Flemington with Trusting.

Winks said trainer John Thompson and connections usually left race tactics up to their jockeys and he envisaged going forward as long as Trusting jumped well from gate 17.

The jockey is looking for a bold showing from the Tale Of The Cat four-year-old who is dropping back to the more favourable 1600m trip after failing behind champion So You think in both the Cox Plate (2040m) when ninth and the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) when eighth.

But Winks is going on his previous two runs when runner-up to More Joyous in the George Main Stakes (1600m) and a head second to Captain Sonador in the Epsom Hcp (1600m), both at Randwick.

"If he brings that form to Flemington tomorrow, he'll be winning the race," Winks, who has already been successful at Group One level during Melbourne Cup week with Star Witness in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day, said.

He has two chances of Group One success on Saturday as he also rides the Danny O'Brien-trained Star Witness in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).

Patinack Farm will have two runners in the Emirates if first emergency Gathering secures a start.

Craig Newitt is engaged to ride Gathering who won the Listed Herald Sun Super Stable Stakes (1400m) at Flemington three starts back.

Another Tale Of The Cat four-year-old, Gathering led when sixth to Emirates Stakes rival Sound Journey in the Group Two Patinack Farm Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.

The Flemington track was rated a dead (5) on Friday with the expectation that it could dry out to a good (3) on Saturday due to the prevailing fine weather.

Winks said a firm track would give Trusting his chance.

"If he puts his best foot forward he's definitely capable of winning," he said.

Randwick trainer Grahame Begg is after his third win in the race with dual Group Two winner Palacio De Cristal who will also appreciate a return to dry ground.

Begg won the race with Bonanova in 1999 and All Silent in 2008.

The Emirates Stakes has been a tough assignment for punters over the years and shapes up to be just that again on Saturday.

New Zealander Wall Street heads the market as $6.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Drumbeats and second emergency Demerit at $8.50, Queenslander Rothera ($9), Palacio De Cristal at $10 with Captain Sonador, Trusting and third emergency We're Gonna Rock at $11.

Last year All American, sent out at $41, upset Cox Plate winner So You Think while other roughies to take the race out in recent times have been Tears I Cry ($101 in 2007), Valedictum ($26 in 2005) and Sky Cuddle ($51 in 2004).