An elevated temperature brought a premature end to King's Gambit's spring carnival but co-trainer Peter Snowden is excited to see him ready to step back into the public eye.
King's Gambit was a high-profile absentee from the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes during the Melbourne Cup carnival but the promising colt returns under barrier trial conditions on Tuesday.
The three-year-old will contest a heat at Warwick Farm over 900m with Melbourne jockey Jamie Kah in the saddle.
A second trial will follow in the lead-up to a race return in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24.
"We're very happy with him," Snowden said.
"He's come back a more relaxed horse, which he needed to be.
"He got better last time in, but he is better again now and that was always his battle as he was quite full of himself.
"With a bit of age and maturity, even though he is very lightly raced, we'd like to think the best is yet to come."
While Caulfield has sometimes brought the undoing of Sydney-based three-year-olds, there is no fear in this instance with King's Gambit having won the Listed Debutants Stakes (900m) in October 2022.
"I'm not worried about Caulfield at all so that won't be an issue," Snowden said.
"A fast-run race is perfect."
After the Oakleigh Plate, the Snowdens are planning for the son of I Am Invincible to return to Sydney for the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 23 before a start in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick.
Jamie Kah has been booked to ride King's Gambit in the Oakleigh Plate where he is rated an $11 chance.
