HE Aint Fakin may have missed out on a shot at Group 1 glory a few weeks ago but he's primed to charge back to the front in this Wednesday night's NSW Breeders Challenge Regional 2YO Colts and Geldings Heat at Bathurst Paceway.
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The son of Art Major produced a stirring Queensland campaign for the Chris Frisby stable over August and September - winning all three of his starts at Albion Park - and has kept his strong form going against tough New South Wales competition since his return home.
He found the recent blue riband NSW Breeders Challenge Group 1 event just that fraction too tough, still coming home fifth against the state's top juveniles, and should find this Wednesday night's race at home a much easier affair.
Anthony Frisby, who has been in the driver's seat for all nine of He Aint Fakin's career starts to date, said the youngster hasn't let the team down once.
"We're really happy with him. In that final he was the quickest last quarter in that race but the draw just put him out of it straight away when he drew outside all of those good horses," he said.
"When you're in those races you've still got to be good enough, but he's handled it really good and come out it nicely. He'll still need a few things to go his way on Wednesday and a bit of luck early, and they'll know he's in it.
"He's been really good at home since coming back from Queensland. We couldn't be any happier with him and he goes into this race as good as he's ever been."
He Aint Fakin is the fourth foal to race out of She Aint Fakin but is the first of them to truly show top-tier potential.
He scored a 1:52.7 winning mile rate in his first Queensland run and has already made just shy of $40,000 in prizemoney.
He Aint Fakin is likely to start favourite this Wednesday as he goes out from a much more favourable draw in gate two.
The two biggest dangers look to be his own stablemate, Our Uncle Dan, and Gemma Hewitt's Kashed Up who start from gates five and four respectively.
Our Uncle Dan comes off an exhausting fifth place run in the Group 2 Breeders Blue Final while Kashed Up finished second in that same race and beat He Aint Fakin by a neck in the recent Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge Final.
"Uncle Dan probably went a little ordinary in his last start at Menangle and Gemma's horse is very nice," Frisby said.
"We have the draw on them this week but you've still got to turn up on the day to get the job done."
The Bathurst meeting also features a NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Fillies Heat that, on paper, looks to be a little more open of an affair.
Steve Turnbull has first start winner Im Desirable back fresh from a long spell, while Bernie Hewitt has a strong trio of fillies lined up with Beta Jewel, Iamajoyride and Ulaanbaatar all reasonable chances of taking the spoils.
Racing at Bathurst gets underway from 3.38pm.