Promising three year old Inside Agent can find his way into the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 4 if he races up to trainer Nigel Blackiston’s expectations.

Trainer Nigel Blackiston, above, is hoping Inside Agent finds his way into the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Inside Agent is set to resume for the Autumn Carnival in the Group 3 $150,000 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 4 and a good first up performance will see Blackiston map out a program heading towards the Group 1 for the three year olds at the beginning of March.

“I’m hoping he’s a Guineas horse,” Blackiston told Racing.com.

“We’ll go to the Manfred and that leaves two weeks into the CS Hayes Stakes here over 1400 metres and if I’m pleased with him at that stage, we’ll go onto the Guineas.”

The Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18 is run two weeks before the Australian Guineas.

Inside Agent pleased Blackiston with a nice jump out at his home track today with Craig Williams giving the Flemington trainer a glowing report.

“It was a very nice trial,” Blackiston said.

“He jumped keenly, found his feet and balanced up and when he asked for him to quicken, he quickened very well and the report from Craig (Williams) was that he was very happy with him.

“I might give him a little soft jump-out next week and that leads nicely into the Manfred Stakes on the 4th of February.”

Inside Agent has only been to the races on four occasions, producing a win at his second start in the Listed $120,000 Poseidon Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 2 last year and then two starts later the Starvisnky colt was narrowly beaten when second to Souchez in the Listed $150,000 Hilton Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 5.