Smoother travel the key for Vainstream

Trainer John Pascoe is not concerned about the prospects of some horrific weather arriving before the Caulfield race meeting.

More worrying for Pascoe is how Vainstream will handle the trip from his Moe stable.

Pascoe has the lightly raced three-year-old engaged in Saturday's The Sheen Panel Service Handicap, the second time Vainstream has been to Caulfield.

At his latest outing Vainstream finished third behind Sam's Image and Nature Strip in the VOBIS Gold Dash on April 21.

The trip to the track wasn't as smooth as Pascoe might have hoped.

"He knocked himself around on the float getting there," Pascoe said.

"I don't think he likes my float, so we'll get him on one of the horse transports for Saturday.

"We'll have someone with him on the way up so hopefully he travels up better."

Caulfield is expected to be hit with some heavy rain before Saturday with up to 50mm a possibility.

Caulfield has not had a heavy track since April 2012, although it held a meeting on April 14 that fell into the soft range after rain during the day.

Pascoe isn't expecting soft conditions to pose a problem for Vainstream.

The colt's dam Yasey San was a wet track winner on slow and heavy ground and Vainstream has shown he can handle a rain-affected track in his work.

"He worked exceptionally well on Tuesday and our confidence levels are pretty high," Pascoe said.

"There's some horrific weather coming in the lead-up to the race but I'm not at all concerned about that.

"He worked on the inside grass at Moe which was a little wet, and I rode him myself, and he went through it easily.

"I don't think Caulfield will be that wet but if it's soft, or heavy, we won't have a problem.

"We've got Noel Callow on and he knows the horse.

"I say his confidence levels are pretty high the way I spoke to him a couple of days ago."

Vainstream has won three of his five starts, filling a place at his remaining two, and Pascoe says he'll be guided by how the colt performs on Saturday.

He said if, as expected, he handles a wet track, he may press on for another start or two before a break and a look towards the spring.