Religify on a wing and prayer in Mile
than a first-up 11th in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last month.
The gelding won the Prime Minister’s Cup, Wayne Wilson Memorial and the Mumm Stakes at Listed level in Queensland last winter.
He then raced well in Melbourne with seconds in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes and Group 2 Schweppes Crystal Mile in the spring.
Shailer said there was a question mark over Religify who had top weight of 61kg.
“We trialled him at the Gold Coast after his first-up failure and he was just fair,” Shailer said. “I don’t know if he is going as well as he was last year.
“He likes the tracks dry and he likes to be on the pace. It will be a good surface and he has barrier one so that should suit him.”
Former top New Zealand jockey Michael McNab will ride Religify and a win would boost his Queensland career.
“He missed a winning ride at Caloundra last week because of his weight,” Shailer said. “Michael is just struggling with it a bit but he is working hard and the results should come.”