That’s the message from The Lagoon trainer Steve Turnbull who sends Casino Tommy around in Saturday night’s Listed Menangle Country Series Final (1,609 metres).

Turnbull’s four-year-old gelding qualified comfortably for the race thanks to recent heat win at Dubbo, one where the trainer said he reacted well to hard work.

“In his last run at Dubbo he was driven hard but he went away from them,” he said.

“Finals are harder though so we’ll have to play it by ear.

“He’s worked well over his last couple of starts so he should put in a good race.

“I haven’t had a great look at the field but that Bathurst heat winner [Barkway Arnold] was very quick.”

Barkway Arnold won his Bathurst heat in a 1:57.1 mile rate.

Casino Tommy has picked up seven career wins from 37 starts, including two from his last three races.

Mitch Turnbull has the drive in Saturday night’s race with a tricky start for Casino Tommy out of gate nine.

No Bathurst trainers will be involved in either of the night’s two Group 3 races although Amanda Turnbull will feature in the driver’s seat.

Turnbull will drive Tact Hayleys Delight and Sheza Amason in the Les Chant Cup (1,609m) and Trotters Discretionary Handicap (2,300m) respecitvely.