Trainer Patrick Payne will find out whether unbeaten jumper Awakening Dream is capable of graduating to the top-grade races this season when he faces his biggest test at Sandown on Wednesday.The five-year-old has found a new lease of life over hurdles with three jumps wins but has paid the price for his success with a steadying 68.5kg on his back in Wednesday's Mosstrooper Hurdle (3300m).Payne said it had been a remarkable transformation for Awakening Dream who had struggled on the flat for most

Trainer Patrick Payne will find out whether unbeaten jumper Awakening Dream is capable of graduating to the top-grade races this season when he faces his biggest test at Sandown on Wednesday.

The five-year-old has found a new lease of life over hurdles with three jumps wins but has paid the price for his success with a steadying 68.5kg on his back in Wednesday's Mosstrooper Hurdle (3300m).

Payne said it had been a remarkable transformation for Awakening Dream who had struggled on the flat for most of his career.

"His flat form was pretty ordinary but he's a natural jumper and he loves it," Payne said.

Awakening Dream created much excitement when winning his jumps debut by 20 lengths at Yarra Glen on April 26 and then after a win in a Jumpers Flat (3300m) at Moe he scored a half-length victory over Tradesman's Choice at Morphettville on May 30.

Last start he was dominant, leading all the way to beat Seven Crownies by 12 lengths at Warrnambool on June 14, but Payne said Wednesday's assignment would be his real test.

"It might find him out a little bit," Payne said.

"He's probably had a few things in his favour until now because he's very good in the wet and he got that each time.

"He's up in the weights now and will probably get not too bad a ground against a much stronger field this time."

Stephen Pateman has ridden Awakening Dream at all his jumps starts and will partner him again at Sandown.

Yamanaura, who last start was a neck second to Hooker Road in the Australian Hurdle after winning at Sandown two starts ago, is the one to beat with only a half-kilo more than Awakening Dream.

Three-year-old Black And Bent adds more interest to the race after his nine-length win at Sandown last week.

A half-brother to champion jumper Some Are Bent, Black And Bent is amazingly still in his first racing campaign and is lining up for his 17th race start.

He has won four races including two of his four hurdle starts.