Jockey Jake Noonan will be looking to repay the faith of the Patrick and Michelle Payne stable when he partners Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) at Flemington.
Noonan rides the stayer in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) on Saturday and is looking to strike winning form again on the rising five-year-old.
Bold Soul and Noonan completed a Stakes race treble, winning twice as a three-year-old in Tasmania and once in South Australia with the jockey having ridden the stayer only twice since those three-year-old days.
The most recent was when Bold Soul finished a last start second to Goldenstatewarrior over 2600m at Flemington on July 5.
Noonan replaced the then suspended Tom Prebble who had scored on the gelding over 2530m at Flemington on June 21.
“Paddy asked if I wanted to go down to Tassie to ride him (as a three-year-old), and that’s how it originated,” Noonan said.
“Credit to Tom Prebble. He’s done a terrific job on him this preparation and I was lucky enough to get back on him last start.
“We just got run down. He went up three kilos the other day and the winner stayed on 54 kilos, and if we had met on level weights, he would have gone close to winning.
The first half of Saturday’s race will be the key to Bold Soul’s chances of running out the trip.
Noonan said Bold Soul can be keen early, but the Payne brother-and-sister training operation have Bold Soul racing in excellent form at present.
“He can be a bit bold and keen into the bridle and if you’re doing that over 2800 (metres), it can be detrimental in the second half of the race,” Noonan said.
“He’s had some good racing this time in, and it’s seasoned him and he’s probably getting better with the racing that he’s had.”