John Saddler doesn’t run the biggest training operation  down in Flemington but his horses are always prepared brilliantly and presented as a winning chance on race day.

The effort put into his stable is highlighted perfectly by his Brisbane Winter Carnival assault with just two horses sent north but they’re accompanied by three of his top stable staff.

One of them is the stable foreman Troy Corstens and he’s very excited by his chances.

The first will come this weekend with The Chevron to race at Group 3 level over 2200m.

“Ideally he’s a  bit of a get back horse so we probably would have proffered Eagle Farm but there’s not a lot we can do,” he said.

” He’s settled in really well, no complaints a very happy horse.”

It’s tough for Corstens to rate The Chevron’s form going into the race as he rarely gives an accurate demonstration of how he’s going in the training paddock.

” He’s not the most brilliant of track workers, but he’s an exciting racehorse,” he said.

” He’s got the pedigree there, we can’t wait to get him out over a mile and a half plus.”

His causes are expected to be helped on Saturday by the addition of blinkers for the first time to try and sharpen him up earlier on.

“We’re going to put the blinkers on him on Saturday just to see if we can get him to racing two or three lengths closer than he usually does,” he said.

There other horse north of the border in 2011 is Heidilicious which won’t run until next weekend.

She’s coming off what ended up being a good run in The Roses last start, she only finished sixth but that was after missing the jump by five lengths from barrier 16 after rearing in the stalls.

“Down in Melbourne the barrier boys always need to hold on to her,” Corstens said.

“It’s not really that she does all the time as long as you’ve got someone on her head right to the line.”

Heidilicious is being targeted towards the Queensland Oaks where she’ll need to overcome the dominate New Zealand horse Scarlett Lady.