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By Ray Hickson

It hasn’t been the smoothest of build ups for unbeaten three-year-old Know Thyself ahead of his Canterbury return on Wednesday but co-trainer Paul Messara hopes the gelding can show he’s on target for a potential winter stakes tilt.

Trainer Paul Messara

The promising galloper put a small scare through the camp when he almost fell at the start prior to winning his Muswellbrook barrier trial earlier this month but Messara said he pulled up unscathed and has to get his preparation underway.

“He slipped over at the start of his first trial this prep and I wanted to see how he came through it and he’s come through fine,’’ Messara said.

“His work has been good so I can’t really fault him.

“I think it’s a pretty strong field on paper. I was hoping it’d be a bit softer and he’s got to carry a bit of weight.”

Messara, who co-trains with Leah Gavranich, is referring to the TAB Handicap (1250m) as the kick off point for Know Thyself, $3.30 with TAB on Tuesday, who has won both his starts at Newcastle and Scone comfortably

He has his eye on a TAB Highway in two weeks as a stepping stone to his winter target of the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) on the Sunshine Coast.

“He took a little bit of time, he was quite heavy as a colt so I gelded him,’’ Messara said.

“He had the two runs last prep and I thought I’d put him away and bring him back for Queensland.

“I’m running him here because it’s hard to get into the races up there at the moment without any prizemoney.

“It needs to be a building run but a good run nonetheless.

“I don’t think he’s really tuned up for a hard run first-up but timing wise we’ve got to get him rolling, I would have liked to have had enough time to give him one more trial before racing.”

Josh Parr takes the ride on Know Thyself at Canterbury, Aaron Bullock has been in the saddle in his two wins, and Messara likes how the race might pan out from a favourable barrier.

“You can have him wherever you like and when he gets up to further distances he’ll be at his best,’’ he said.

“He’s pretty push button. I thought over 1250m he’d be tailing them and coming off their backs.

“It’s a nice midfield barrier, I thought Josh would suit his style. He’s not a horse you can get stuck into at the start of races, just let him find his feet and he’ll do the rest for you.”

Consistent four-year-old Rematch will have a gear change for Saturday’s TAB Highway (1500m) at Rosehill in a race Messara said should be a suitable target.

Know Thyself wins Muswellbrook trial on May 15

Aaron Bullock will ride the gelding, who carries 59kg under the set weights conditions, on the back of a third placing in a Highway at Scone on May 18.

“It’s a set weight Highway so he will come in well against the opposition,’’ he said.

“He’s an honest horse, we’re going to mix things up and put the blinkers on him to see if it sharpens him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting