Smooth Chino will hunt more Group 3 glory in the $200,000 Drummond Golf Belmont Sprint (1400m) when he starts favourite in the feature of Saturday’s return to the winter racing circuit.

The son of Maschino took a classy victory in the Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m) at his last appearance when reuniting with Austin Galati, who preserved an unbeaten six-from-six record on the four-year-old.

He’s a $2.20 fancy to win again for Indianna Weinert, who will imminently move to South Australia and take the chestnut with her.

However, a parting gift will not be easily achieved with the presence of Western Empire ($2.80), who heads the old guard in the contest.

The eight-year-old has been WA’s best horse of the last half-decade, earning almost $3.5 million across a journeyman career.

He’s had two trials in the lead-up to this, crossing the line first in both Lark Hill hit-outs on April 20 and May 4.

William Pike will reunite with the bay for the first time since the Lee Steere Stakes in November last year and although winning only one of nine starts first-up, he has taken to the 1400m journey in the late part of his career with a 2024 Gold Rush victory to his name.

Rope Them In ($9) was five lengths adrift of Smooth Chino in the Northam Stakes but did return with an elevated heart rate, constituting some excuse for the sub-par showing.

Paul Harvey has ridden the gelding only once for success and jumps back aboard this weekend.

West Star ($9.50) winds out those at single-digit odds after finishing a length-and-a-half third in the Northam Stakes, while Diamond Scene ($15) – best known as a stayer – did win first-up at his last campaign.

+ Napoleonic has squirmed his way into the field for the Group 1 $1 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday after scratchings paved the way for the three-year-old.

Many took umbrage on social media to his omission from the big race when he was made second emergency but with Abounding, Lady Of Camelot and Private Eye all being withdrawn, the son of Wootton Bassett will take his place for trainer Tom Charlton.

“It’s important because he looks like he’s in a big race with a chance,” Charlton said.

“It has always been the plan, and it’s not normally a race where you get a full field. Normally a (benchmark rating) 103 three-year-old gets in, so it was a bit of a spanner in the works. But thankfully, we’re in.

“He worked very well with Linebacker on Tuesday. James (McDonald) came in and rode him, which makes our life easy because he knows where we’re at, and he was very pleased.

“We can’t fault the preparation thus far.”

A $6 third favourite, McDonald concedes he was fearing the worst when he was originally not in the final 16 starters.

“You try to stay positive, but I was worried he was not going to get there and that would have been a shame,” McDonald said.

“We are in the race now, and he is flying.

“I rode him in the spring, and he was an immature three-year-old, but he had those runs in the autumn have really toughened him up, and he is ready for this now.

“I would have been really disappointed if he didn’t get a run.”

After winning three races towards the end of last year, the colt resumed with runner-up placings in both the Eskimo Prince and Hobartville Stakes.

Eighth but not beaten far by Joliestar in the Cantala Stakes, the bay was then spelled with a view to this campaign.

“He is just a different horse from the spring,” McDonald said.

“He is a real 1200m horse, who is going to love the pressure at this level.

“I missed his second trial because I was away, but Zac (Lloyd) was impressed with him.

“He really likes a soft track, so I’m hoping it will stay in the soft range and heavy would be even better.

“This race is coming at the right time for him.”

Jimmysstar remains the $3.30 favourite despite being beaten in three runs this preparation, while Grafterburners ($6) shares the second line of betting.

The remaining runner under double-figure odds is Devil Night ($9), who will soon be moving to stallion duties by owners Yulong Investments.

“He’s heading to stud; Yulong have known that,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.

“He’s actually an exciting horse going to stud up in the Hunter (Valley) at the new Segenhoe.

“We’ve got a job to do and we’re trying to get that Group 1 again. His form’s actually ridiculous. He’s well in this.

“I can’t fault him. The horse is outstanding and he’s actually going great guns.

“He jumped, led, and ran stupid sectionals up front (in the Arrowfield). He’s absolutely flying.”

Despite his overwhelming confidence in the horse’s health, Hawkes sees many dangers in a crack lineup.

“I did have a good look at this field on Saturday, and I’ve got to be honest, I think it’s very, very even,” he said.

“It’s one of those races where you can throw a dart and there’s going to be four, five, six chances, and he’s one of them.

“Honestly, I thought Grafterburners is probably (the biggest danger) from the soft draw.

“I know Jimmysstar’s the quality horse in the race - there’s no doubt about that - but I just thought it was a very even race, especially with a lot of those horses drawing wide out.

“Hopefully Devil Night can just jump, be on speed there and he’ll give his 110 per cent.

“I’m not sure what the weather’s planning, he hasn’t raced on a wet track before, I’ve worked him on it, he’s been fine in it, but until you race, you don’t know.”

Private Harry ($20) has disappointed since joining Chris Waller, but the top trainer says the future stallion can hit back.

“He’s a good horse – he looks great,” Waller said.

“His first-up run he blew out (fitness-wise). Long time off, on a heavy track, they went quick early; he and the leader capitulated.

“He’s trained on well, he looks great, he’s moving well, he’s ready to bounce.”

Reserve Bank ($51) was vetted before his previous outing in the Victory Stakes, and his rider Cejay Graham sees the wide draw of 17 as an aid to helping his barrier manners.

“The wide barrier may help a horse like him, not having to stand there for too long, because there are quite a few other horses in the race that have barrier quirks,” she said.

“With the track going to be water-affected and him having sort of quirkiness in the gates, hopefully the barrier is a good recipe for him.

“It was good that I’ve had a sit on him already and got a bit of a feel for him, but he certainly was a bit cheeky in there (the barriers).”