BEN Settree holds out hope that he can catch a superstar horse on an off day when he takes Kanena Provlima back for another crack at Menangle this Saturday.
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A third placing at long odds last week has given Settree the confidence that Kanena Provlima can be in the mix for the TAB Long May We Play Pace (1,609 metres), but Anthony Butt's Perfect Stride stands in the way.
The Gold Chalice and NSW Derby runner-up makes his return to the racing scene after a three month spell and looks the goods after a trial win on the metro track.
Kanena Provlima is drawn directly to his inside in gate three, where Settree has to hope the star isn't racing at 100 per cent.
"Perfect Stride is a super horse, but he's first up. I'm not going to say he can't be beaten but you'd think he'd have to be off his game and someone else would have to be right on theirs to beat him," he said.
There's speed aplenty towards the inside of the field, which leaves Settree a little unsure how the runners will settle.
Oberon's Wayne Watterson has Rockn And Rolln to his inside and Craig Cross' Seeuinnashville gets the inside draw.
"Rockn And Rolln has good gate speed and [driver] Luke's [McCarthy] horse [Seeuinnashville] has terrific early speed as well so I'm not sure we can cross them but we'll be punching forward to have a look," Settree said.
Kanena Provilma has made three trips to the metro track in June - his first journey back to the track since a single start there in his three-year-old season.
It's been a tough welcome back to the metro scene but Settree feels good times are ahead for his A Rocknroll Dance gelding.
"Kanena Provlima's been down there the past few weeks, it's just the grading he's got to follow. He's got to get into this sort of company if he's going to go ahead with it," he said.
"Where's hopeful he'll measure up to those better class of races. He's been competitive down there for the past few weeks without having any luck at all.
"Last week he went forward from barrier nine and got the one-one - which was a great drive from Anthony [Frisby] to do that - which made it a lot easier when he up close.
"He's been having awful draws lately ... so I think from three I don't know if he'll have any idea what to do from there," he laughed.
The race is a heat for a $30,000 final to be held the following Saturday.