HE'S got a proven brilliant finish within him but the question for Bling It Up is whether he'll have the opportunity to make the most of it in this Friday's NSW Breeders Challenge heat at Parkes.
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The Michael Muscat-trained Bling It Up is hitting the best form of his young career at an opportune time, racking up back-to-back wins on his home track ahead of the upcoming 2YO Colts and Geldings Heat (1,660 metres).
He's in for his biggest test yet when he goes out from gate four in an almost all-Bathurst affair at the Parkes track.
Mat Rue returns to drive his third straight race on Bling It Up in a bid to maintain his 100 per cent win record on the Bling It On gelding.
Muscat said the work from his promising runner has been consistent but knows this will be his biggest test yet.
"He's going really good at the moment. The horse is very well in himself. I'm really happy with him and I'll leave it in Mat's hands to see what he wants to do with him," he said.
"He's a way better sit and sprinter so it's going to be tricky from that barrier but he's in the right hands anyway. He wouldn't want to be doing too much work early - he'd almost be better off last than that.
"I think he'll handle the track alright but he definitely would have preferred it here [in Bathurst]."
Dropping back will obviously carry its own level of risk should any of the classy runners in the Parkes heat enjoy an easy time out in front.
The heat carries a massive Steve Turnbull presence, comprised of four runners for the trainer from The Lagoon.
Baxter Red gets the inside draw for Turnbull but it's stablemate Allstarzzz Frankie that will catch the most attention widest on the front row, given his Group 3-winning credentials.
Saints Veran, who completed the Turnbull 1-2 behind Allstarzzz Frankie in the Tatlow Stakes, will start on the outside of the back row alongside the last of the stable's runners, Bettor Keppel.
Muscat's runner is sandwiched on the front row by Bernie Hewitt's trio of runners, Promising, Shoulda Passed and Better Than Lexy.
Mark Hewitt's Hurrikane Dude is the only non-Bathurst runner taking on the heat.
Muscat said Bling It Up always gave him an indication that he'd be able to put up a fight at this level from the get go.
"He always showed us ability but just a few things went wrong with him early," he said.
"We've been lucky enough lately to see him put it all together."
Parkes will also play host to the NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Fillies Heat prior to the colts and geldings event, featuring another host of strong Bathurst hopes.
Muscat gets a friendlier draw in that event with Africana going out from gate one.
Africana finds herself with her third trainer in a short space of time across her young career, looking for her first victory in this Friday's heat.
Racing at Parkes will get underway at 6.22pm with the first of the Breeders Challenge heats starting at 8.20pm.
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