Three-year-old gelding Disposition is set to have his first start under the care of new trainer Wez Hunter in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington this Saturday.

Autumn Stakes winner San Nicasio is one of 24 horses nominated for the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Disposition’s owner Bob Peters was so impressed with the emerging trainer when he travelled to Perth during the summer with Smokin’ Joey that he entrusted him with his promising three-year-old in his first campaign in Melbourne.

Last week, Hunter described Disposition as the best horse he has ‘by a long way’, which is saying something since Smokin’ Joey returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in nine months to score the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) on Saturday.

“I’m pretty excited about him,” Hunter told Racing Ahead when asked about Disposition on Monday morning.

“He could be a really nice horse, I can’t wait to get to Flemington.

“He’ll have a gallop on the grass at Mornington tomorrow (Tuesday) and that will top him off. He’s done plenty of work and he came to me very fit. He’ll be there ready to go Saturday. He’s fully wound up and I expect him to go well.”

Disposition finished in the first two in all six of his starts in Perth during the spring and summer, finishing runner-up to Moriarty in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 6.

Chris Waller has nominated three of his stable stars for the 2015 CS Hayes Stakes, including Kermadec and Delectation. Options are being kept open for the pair, which have also been nominated for the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on the same day.

Delectation finished runner-up to Scissor Kick in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) last Saturday after also finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at the end of spring.

Kermadec won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) in November before finishing just outside the placings in the Eskimo Prince.

Both horses are among the early entries for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 7.

Bascule is Waller’s other Hayes Stakes nomination. The three-year-old colt could be backing up by just seven days after finishing end of the field in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Another horse backing up from the Autumn Stakes could be winner San Nicasio. The gelding is nominated for the Australian Guineas but trainer Peter Moody fears he may not be mature enough, potentially testing him sooner rather than later.

Other three-year-old colts and gelding’s nominated for the 2015 CS Hayes Stakes include Henry Dwyer’s Lucky Liberty, Merion, Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) runner-up Stratum Star, Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) runner-up Testashadow, and Gai Waterhouse’s Wandjina.