Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell has seized the opportunity to test up-and-coming three-year-old Yokozuna in a midweek race carrying an unusual prizemoney bonus at Sandown.The $75,000 High Caste Handicap (1400m) was programmed for Flemington last Saturday but transferred to Wednesday's Sandown meeting to accommodate three postponed races including the Australian Cup and Australian Guineas.The three-year-old event is the feature race at Sandown and Purcell said it was a terrific opportunity for

Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell has seized the opportunity to test up-and-coming three-year-old Yokozuna in a midweek race carrying an unusual prizemoney bonus at Sandown.

The $75,000 High Caste Handicap (1400m) was programmed for Flemington last Saturday but transferred to Wednesday's Sandown meeting to accommodate three postponed races including the Australian Cup and Australian Guineas.

The three-year-old event is the feature race at Sandown and Purcell said it was a terrific opportunity for Yokozuna who has won three of his six starts.

"It is a big step up in class but you can't do more than win," Purcell said.

"He has won three of his last four so he is doing a good job."

Purcell has hopes that Yokozuna will eventually develop into a country Cup galloper and he bought the son of Tayasu Tsuyoshi for just $12,000 at the 2008 Adelaide Magic Millions.

In his first campaign last spring he won at Warracknabeal and Warrnambool and last start, second-up, won by a long neck at Warrnambool in 0-68 grade.

"I was planning to go to a restricted midweek race with him when this race turned up after the bad weather at Flemington two weeks ago," Purcell said.

"They have put on Saturday prizemoney midweek and while it is a strong enough race it is not overly strong."

He said this campaign was always geared towards Yokozuna graduating to city class if he was good enough.

"We decided to throw him in this and see how he goes," Purcell said.

"It is hard to get a gauge on the opposition he beat last start at Warrnambool because most were coming out of maiden grade but he carried topweight (59kg) and won well.

"If he measures up on Wednesday we can look at the Saturday Super VOBIS races in Melbourne otherwise we can drop him back in class.

"Hopefully he can run well and, down the track, I would like to think he could be a country Cup horse."

Jason Lyon will ride Yokozuna who is at $16 in TAB Sportsbet's early market.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained War Ends, with Michael Rodd taking the reins, dominates the betting at $2 after posting seconds at Ballarat and Caulfield at his only two starts.

Last-start Sandown winner Cross Street is at $4.40 ahead of last-start Mornington winner Rebel Truce ($6.50).