LIKE a potter's soft clay, Muswellbrook trainer Tim McIntosh is moulding Electric Horseman into a racehorse.
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The four-year-old gelding by Dreamscape is still new to the game but already has shown potential to win more races.
On Sunday at Dubbo, Electric Horseman will be aiming for back-to-back wins in the Dubbo RSL Club Event Centre Class 1 Hcp over 1300m.
Electric Horseman has faced the starter on just three occasions.
In his first preparation, the gelding, who is raced on lease by part-owner Mrs Hitchcock, had two runs for a fourth at Taree and fifth at Muswellbrook on November 3.
"At Taree he just got too far back then didn't handle the heavy track at Muswellbrook," McIntosh said. "He was given a good break and has come back a better horse."
Electric Horseman spelled for 190 days, given plenty of time to grow into himself and mature.
McIntosh gave him two trials leading into his first-up run over 1300m at Dubbo on May 11.
Sent out as a $4 chance with champion country hoop Greg Ryan in the saddle, Electric Horseman was ridden along at the 200m before gaining the upper hand over the final stages to record his maiden win.
It was a relief for McIntosh.
"It was a big run," he suggested. "He was first-up from a long spell on a heavy track over 1300 metres. I thought he went really well."
According to McIntosh Electric Horseman has improved since the outing.
"He's done well since the run," McIntosh confirmed. "I think he goes pretty good but we're just going to take things one race at a time and work through the grades."
McIntosh said there was no reason why Electric Horseman wouldn't handle the expected heavy track.
"He won on a heavy track at Dubbo last time and while it was the first race, he didn't have any problems handling it," he added.
"Greg was keen to ride him again and I think he'll be hard to beat."
A pair of Bathurst trainers shape as McIntosh's biggest obstacles, with Peter Stanley and Dean Mirfin also shaping as real contenders.
Stanley's Eurella Flight is coming off a win at Mudgee and a second-placed finish at Bathurst while Mirfin's Special Silk will be looking to improve of a sixth-placed finish last time out at Dubbo.
Wellington horse Magic Is Might, trained by Jim McMillan, carries the top weight of 58.5kg for the event, which jumps at 3.27pm.
The first of the eight races set down for Sunday leaves the barriers at 12.25pm.
