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By Ray Hickson

You could say Robusto has been one of the bargain buys of the year and the Ingham winner will be out to add to his haul in Saturday’s $500,000 Wyong Leagues Group The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong.

Luke Hilton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The five-year-old was snapped up by Darby Racing for $160,000 early in the season and while his Ingham win accounts for a large chunk of what he’s returned to his new owners that amount sits just under $1.3 million from six starts.

And trainer Bjorn Baker’s assistant Luke Hilton says the gelding is holding his form, having returned from Brisbane, going into The Lakes.

“All his runs have been really sound for us and he’s been in stakes grade pretty much the whole time,’’ Hilton said.

“He didn’t have much luck in his first few, got the luck in the Ingham and didn’t have luck again up in Queensland unfortunately but still ran creditably.

“Josh (Parr) galloped him on Tuesday, he galloped him before the Ingham and the Queensland race, and he said he feels exactly the same, as good as ever, and nice and sharp and bright.”

Robusto, $4 with TAB on Thursday, ventured north after his Ingham win and ran a game second in The Buffering, where a win would have earned him a Magic Millions start.

“We wanted to have a crack at getting in the Millions and it was always on Bjorn’s radar that if he ran well but didn’t make it he’d keep going for this race as well,’’ Hilton said.

A feature of Robusto’s past few starts is a willingness by the horse to put himself into races.

Hilton conceded the barrier helped his cause in The Ingham but what has pleased the stable the most is his will to win.

“I think there was a question mark around how tough he could be if he was exposed,’’ he said.

“In the start before the Ingham he was three wide without cover and kept coming, they ran along in the Ingham and he rode the speed.

“It’s not the ultimate scenario for him to be outside leader but I thought he was very honest last time. We can’t knock him for how competitive he’s been.”

A middle barrier in The Lakes pleased the stable as Hilton said it’ll give Robusto every chance to notch another win.

“There’s a bit of speed engaged in and around which means hopefully he’ll be able to lob third, fourth, fifth somewhere and that’s the ideal scenario for him,’’ he said.

“If he can be close enough without too much work to do he’s effective.”

Stablemate Highlights shouldn’t be discounted, according to Hilton, after a close third behind Ang Pow at his third run this time in that showed the stable he’s on the way up.

The seven-year-old’s last win was on a heavy track at Rosehill in June where he led all the way.

“He’s taken a few to get back to his best but he put the writing on the wall last start and picked himself to run in this race,’’ Hilton said.

“Creeping up in distance is going to help him. He’s just looking for the mile now and he’s got no weight and a good gate.

“He’ll put himself right there and he’s tough when he gets the right circumstances.”

Two-year-old debutant Namaste could be bound for the Karaka Million if he can win the Heritage Real Estate Handicap (1200m).

Robusto wins The Ingham

Hilton said the stable has a handy opinion of the colt who trialled back in September but was tipped out before winning a trial at Warwick Farm last week.

“He went to the Breeders’ trials and it was probably all a bit too soon for him,’’ he said.

“He’s definitely a quality two-year-old, he’s going to take plenty of improvement out of Saturday with only the one trial up to the 1200m. It’s not an easy task for him.”

Luke Hilton on Bonita Queen (race 5): “Adam (Hyeronimus) was really happy with her last trial. He rode her a fair bit last prep and was pleased with the progression she’s made mentally. She’s had a couple of good gallops at home. Wyong suits, a bit of sting out of the ground suits, 1100m suits. She ticks a lot of boxes to knock off a Saturday race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Wyong meeting