The formidable combination of Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman will be on the road this week in search of feature race riches.Bowman rides the Waller-trained Snow Alert in Thursday's Group Three Newcastle Cup ahead of his assignment on Metal Bender in the Group One Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.He teamed with the Rosehill trainer to take out the last race at Rosehill on Saturday with Gigino who beat off a determined Stratofortress to win over 1800 metres, his first success beyond 1500 me

The formidable combination of Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman will be on the road this week in search of feature race riches.

Bowman rides the Waller-trained Snow Alert in Thursday's Group Three Newcastle Cup ahead of his assignment on Metal Bender in the Group One Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

He teamed with the Rosehill trainer to take out the last race at Rosehill on Saturday with Gigino who beat off a determined Stratofortress to win over 1800 metres, his first success beyond 1500 metres.

Waller has an enviable record with distance horses and Snow Alert will be joined by stablemate Hawk Island at Newcastle as he attempts to reverse the placings from the Wyong Cup.

Triple Honour, who is topweight with 62.5kg will not line up in the 2300m Group Three race.

"Triple Honour won't run," Waller said.

"I hoped he might get a bit less, maybe 61, but it's too much.

"It's a shame because if he ran first, second or third it qualifies him for the Melbourne Cup."

Three-time Group One winner Metal Bender also needs to pass the distance clause for the Melbourne Cup but the immediate aim is another elite victory in the Underwood (1800m).

"Metal Bender leaves for Melbourne on Tuesday," Waller said.

"He's done well since the Chelmsford."

Metal Bender led in a Waller-trained trifecta in the Warwick Stakes but was downed by Theseo ast his most recent start in the Chelmsford on a heavy track.

While Metal Bender prepares for the trip to Melbourne, Danleigh has returned home to Sydney to get ready for the George Main Stakes on September 25.

Danleigh finished fourth as favourite in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last Saturday week, run on an unsuitable heavy track.

Waller admits he has had troubles this preparation getting the weight off Danleigh but says he lost the extra kilos on the trip to and from Melbourne.

"He's lost the weight and is back to 480 kilos and runs in the George Main," he said.

"Next time we'll just drive him around Sydney in a truck for ten hours instead of working him."

Trainer Gai Waterhouse will make a decision on Monday whether Stratofortress backs up in the Newcastle Cup.