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By Ray Hickson

You’d think racing on your home track would be an advantage but that’s the one question mark trainer Kristen Buchanan has over lightly raced stayer Oakfield Cherokee ahead of Thursday’s Wyong assignment.

Trainer Kristen Buchanan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

So Buchanan will have the fingers crossed jockey Aaron Bullock can pull off a masterstroke in the We Care Connect Handicap (2100m) on the full brother to Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina.

The gelding, having his first start on his home track, has done most of his racing on roomy courses and showed he’s ready to win this preparation with an eye-catching third, finishing alongside race favourite Comme Bella Fille, over 1600m at Newcastle on May 18.

Punter's Intelligence sectional data showed he clocked a last 600m of 34.58 in that race, more than two lengths faster than the first two home.

“Will the track suit him, that’s going to be the tricky part,’’ Buchanan said.

“He does best when he settles back and finds the line so it’s just going to take a bit of a spontaneous ride in that he’ll need to get going at the right time.

“He travels really fierce so I try not to let him go until he gets to the 600m in his work. It’s his home track, he knows where he’s at and he will know where the finish line is that’s for sure.”

Unlike his full sister, who won the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes on a heavy track, Oakfield Cherokee ($8.50 with TAB on Wednesday) doesn’t appreciate anything more than a bit of sting out of the ground so Buchanan was pleased to see him bounce back from a heavy track failure at Hawkesbury two runs ago.

She said the four-year-old is the type of horse that can’t be stirred up early in his races and if he’s to get around Wyong it’ll be all in the timing.

“If you try and position him strategically early he gets on the chewy and gets over racing,’’ she said.

“You have to come out, let him relax, get comfortable then build into the race at the right time. He definitely has the ability to do it.”

Stablemate Oakfield Arrow is also making her home track debut on Thursday but there’s an air of confidence from Buchanan that the promising filly will relish the circuit.

The three-year-old, potentially a Provincial Championships horse for 2022, was beaten half a length into fourth place by Bravado in what appears to be a strong Class 2 over 1300m on Scone Cup Day.

“I think she is going to be even nicer next preparation with a bit more experience under her belt,’’ she said.

“She doesn’t do much wrong but did enough to just cost her running top three the other day. She had a bit of a wobble when the rider let her down and she ducked in.

Oakfield Cherokee runs third at Newcastle on May 18

“I thought it was a strong race at Scone and I think the home track will be an advantage to her.”

Buchanan expects Oakfield Arrow will be able to make use of barrier two in the Wyong Leagues Club Group Handicap (1350m) and is hoping she can go out on a high for the preparation.

“She’s smart and switched on and knows the business end of her work at home,’’ she said.

“She can be handy without doing any work and I like the 1350m for her.”

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