Frisby’s enthusiasm for Uncle Lile took a battering after Tuesday’s barrier draw, where he was handed barrier 13 but even though he believes the three-year-old will struggle to win the major race, he is looking forward to watching talented two-year-old Uncle Benjamin, who racked up his first win in Geelong on Wednesday night.

Uncle Benjamin has been hotly tipped by his trainer and Frisby’s son Anthony, who has done most of the work with the Blissfull Hall x Lady Of The South progeny and he is a strong chance of taking another win tonight when he contests the $20,000 Swift Signs Premiere Stakes (1720 metres).

Frisby hasn’t completely written off the chances of Uncle Lile after the gelding finished third in his heat but he admits they will now have to rely on some luck because their main rivals have drawn well.

“He went alright in his heat but he really needed a good draw here,” he said.

“There are four or five horses who have drawn much better. Scandalman drew three and Charlie Machsheen drew two.

“I think Charlie Machsheen is a very strong chance of taking the win. He finished behind us in the the heat but he looked very dangerous.”

John O’Shea has driven Uncle Lile in all but one of his starts and he will be in the gig again as he aims to win the biggest race of his career despite the bad draw.

There were no problems for Uncle Benjamin on Wednesday as he shot to the lead from barrier seven and was never troubled in the $5000 Choice Hotels 132 400 Two Year Old Pace (1609 metres). Starting as a $1.90 favourite, the colt never looked like losing and won by 5.4 metres, rating in 2:01.4.

It was good preparation for tonight’s race where he will take on a higher quality field.

Chris was in the gig on Wednesday night, while Anthony had come back to Bathurst to look after the stable and the runner they had at Bathurst Paceway but he will fly back down this morning to drive Uncle Benjamin tonight.

He has been very impressed with his performances to date.

“We think he has the potential to be better than Uncle Lile. He’s only had one start [prior to Wednesday] but this bloke went better than Uncle Lile,” Anthony said.

“He was out of the barrier draw for Melton but I think he can still do it from barrier seven.

“We will just go out with them and see what the pace is like. We might have to pull back but it is worth poking out, just to see how it goes.”