The $80,000 Tamworth Cup winner in April has blossomed since with the four-year-old, and others in the 1500m race, next aiming for some of the riches at the Grafton Cup Carnival next month and the Taree Cup in August.

“He has done exceptionally well since his unlucky run at Scone,” trainer Jane Clement said.

That was in the $140,000 Luskin Star Stakes at the Scone metropolitan meeting on May 14 when the gelding came from 10th at the 400m mark to finish 4.5 lengths from the winner, Clearly Innocent, the $400,000 Country Final winner at The Championships at Royal Randwick in April.

“They were a bit zippy for him back in distance (1300m as opposed to 1400m of the final where Chrysolaus was 4.4 lengths away in sixth),” she said.

In the $100,000 Wild Card event at Muswellbrook to qualify for the final, Clement said her charge was able to be handier and won the race by a half-length.

“He doesn’t have to get back and his best races have been on solid tracks (still won two and placed twice in soft going).”

Clement said the gelding has always had that “going places” aura around him from the first day she rode him.

“He is a big boy with a big stride but still a three-year-old in his mind.

“He has thrived since his last run..he’s a good doer and licks the tin dry.”

She said Chrysolaus, to be ridden by regular jockey Rachael Murray, was being aimed at the $50,000 South Grafton Quality Cup over 1600m over 1600m on July 10 and the Wauchope Cup was a great stepping stone towards it as it was on an expansive track at Port.

But there are plenty of rivals capable of upsetting Chrysolaus and many of them are also being aimed towards the Grafton Cup Carnival.

Port Macquarie trainer Tas Morton is one in that category with his five-year-old gelding Star Of Legs,the likely leader in the race, which is having its 14th start this campaign.

At its past three starts three seconds have been registered, two at Grafton and then a short head second to five-year-old Taree mare Who Is Game, trained at Taree by Michael Byers.

On that occasion Star Of Legs, again to be ridden by Kempsey jockey Terry Treichel, skipped several lengths clear in the straight only to be run down right on the line of the 1600m of the Wingham Cup, the time smashing a 16-year race record by nearly two seconds.

”The shorter 100m of the Wauchope Cup should help my horse,” Morton said.

“It was a good effort because he drew wide in the Wingham Cup and had to be used up early to get a spot.

“Although he has been up for 13 races this campaign,he seems to be running better every time.

“All going well,he will go for the South Grafton Cup or a restricted race at the carnival.”

Byers has six-year-old Clune’s Rocket, the two lengths victor in the Gloucester Cup over 1250m at Taree on April 26 in the race and since then gelding has run third in the $25,000 Cessnock Cup over 1350m.

Hall Of Fame jockey Robert Thompson could have taken another mount in the cup but has stuck.

Big query galloper is Taree six-year-old gelding Single Spirit, trained by Ross Stitt, it winning the $50,000 Wellington Cup over 1700m on March 13 before failing at its next two starts.

Stitt said there were excuses last time on the heavy track when a hole was encountered and since the gelding has been given a freshen up.

“He worked well in a jump out on Wednesday and he looks a treat,although he could be only about 90 percent fit.”

He said the South Grafton, Sawtell and Coffs Harbour Cups were on the gelding’s agenda with the main mission being the Taree Cup over 2000m on August 21.

Others in the mix are Parraay, trained at Newcastle by Kris Lees, last start winner Golden Melody, from the Port stable of Margaret De Gonneville and Coffs Harbour mare Sofin, trained by Shannon Fry. 

Trainer Jane Clement is also hoping for winning runs with resuming Brienz Bella in the BDM Constructions Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1200m and Rosetta’s Comet,both to be ridden by Murray,in the Wauchope Real Estate Class 2 Handicap over 1006m. 

Doug Ryan’s selections

Race 1: Rebel Icon 1, Regal Witness 2, Banknote Beau 3.

Race 2: Takeover Tiger 1, Sensational Song 2, Drop The Eaves 3.

Race 3: Black Misty 1, Micucci 2, Peloponnese 3.

Race 4: Brienz Bella 1, Ibelieveinmiracles 2, French Command 3.

Race 5: Ms Wicked Wanda 1, Specific Choice 2, Dixie Lad 3.

Race 6: Underground Blues 1, Just Good 2, Pomme Petite 3.

Race 7: Chrysolaus 1, Star Of Legs 2, Clunes Rocket 3.

Race 8: Rosetta’s Comet 1, Lasszou 2, Go The Gantry 3.