After riding $1 million horse Some Are Bent in a 2800-metre hurdle trial at Warrnambool yesterday, McLean declared: "I think he's definitely improved."

McLean's comment about the eight-year-old will send shudders through rival camps after Some Are Bent won the $100,000 Tom Corrigan Hurdle (3550m) at Warrnambool on July 10.

Some Are Bent is expected to carry 69 kilograms, one kilogram less than at his last start when he took his career earnings beyond $1 million with a 0.8 length win from the Robbie Laing-trained Vindicating.

McLean was upbeat about their chances of success again on Sunday after yesterday's trial.

"I don't think he could be any better," McLean said.

"He's a freak.

"He seems to have improved on his last run. The 69kg is a nice weight for him and the extra distance will suit him."

McLean described yesterday's third placing in the trial as a "solid hit out".

He said trainer Robert Smerdon had wanted to keep the star jumper's fitness up in between runs.

He trialled at Moe over 2400 metres last Thursday.

Stable track rider Trent Atkinson, who oversaw yesterday's hit out in the absence of Smerdon, said Some Are Bent had thrived since returning to the lower obstacles after a heavy fall in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) in May.

"He's done a lot of schooling and trialling to get his confidence back up," Atkinson said.

"Since that last win he has improved out of sight. Brad is really happy with the way he is jumping."

Atkinson said Some Are Bent was within sight of taking his prizemoney in jumps races beyond the $1 million mark, which was a rare feat for jumpers racing solely in Australia.

With $950,488 from jumps races, a win on Sunday would take Some Are Bent beyond the magical mark.

Some Are Bent, a dual Australian jumper of the year, has an impressive record at Warrnambool, which includes victories in this year's Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) and the 2007 Galleywood Hurdle (3000m).

Some Are Bent was not the only star jumper at Warrnambool yesterday, with the Darren Weir-trained Virvacity, winner of the $100,000 Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on July 10, enjoying a school around the cross-country course.

Jockey Tommy Logan, who will partner Virvacity in Sunday's $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase at Warrnambool, said he was impressed with the gelding's form.