Injuries seem to find their way to Bathurstian like a bee to honey, but now the Paul Theobald-trained runner is hoping to sting his rivals when he travels to Wellington’s race meeting today.

Torn muscles led to a disappointing previous campaign for the seven-year-old gelding in which he failed to finish eighth or better following a win first up.

Today he contests the Benchmark 52 Handicap (1,700m) with two runner-ups finishes to his name from three starts this preparation, in what has been a much more encouraging series of races.

It’s been a pleasing comeback for Theobald to witness and the trainer believes his horse is finding some of his career best form.

“He needed a bit of chiropractic work when he pulled his pectoral muscle. He did that at the last 3000m race at Bathurst and I’d been battling to get him back racing. The next lot of muscles to go was his hamstring after he won his last race at Bathurst [on ANZAC Day]. He’s come back well though,” he said.

With a record three wins and 11 seconds Bathurstian has become somewhat of a bridesmaid but his fourth win feels closer and closer for the Primus out of Scotch Princess gelding.

The only bleak note this prep is an eighth at Mudgee, a race that Theobald is willing to put a line through and forget.

“I’m backing him up for this one because there’s not too many races around at the moment. This race is still right up his alley. He’s well-weighted,” he said.

“He did have some issues at Mudgee with the ground ... he just couldn’t handle it. In this race most of the horses there he’s beaten before.”

It’s the first start for the gelding at Wellington, but Jockey Erhan Kacmaz will be back on board Bathurstian after guiding him to a second place last start at Orange.

Theobald takes three horses in total to Wellington, with Dunderry racing in the Benchmark 63 Handicap (1,100m) and Attilius contesting the meet’s opening Maiden Plate (900m) event.

The Benchmark 52 Handicap also feels fellow Bathurst-trained runners Grey Pariz (Shane Cunynghame) and Super Pig (Dean Mirfin). Peter Stanley rounds out the city’s representation with Hollywood Nell and Run Bullet Run both coming off second and first place results respectively.