WARRNAMBOOL galloper Tough Vic faces his toughest task of keeping an unbeaten 2000-metre record at Casterton intact in the Apsley Cup on Saturday.
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The Apsley Cup, usually run at Edenhope, has been transferred to Casterton because of the coronavirus pandemic this year.
Tough Vic, a last start Casterton winner over the 2000 metres in benchmark 58 company, makes the jump to open handicap class in Saturday's feature race on the nine event program.
His trainer Adam Chambers hopes the six-year-old is up to the rise in class.
"We're having a throw at the stumps with Tough Vic," Chambers told The Standard.
"He deserves to have a crack at the Apsley Cup. The only issue is it's a very strong race on paper. There are plenty of chances.
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"The race will give us a great guide as to how Tough Vic is really going.
"He's won two from two at Casterton over the 2000 metres and drops seven kilograms in weight from his last start win in a benchmark 64.
"We had no other options but to run in the Apsley Cup. He's drawn a good barrier and should be in the box seat."
The young trainer said the form around Tough Vic was very good.
"We beat Jimmy's Secret last time and he came out and won at Warrnambool on Tuesday," Chambers said.
"He's not the roughest chance in the race. He'll keep boxing on with the lighter weight.
"I've got a healthy respect for horses including Under Oath, Woolsthorpe Store, Declares War and Duke Of Plumpton and there's another couple with chances as I said it's a very good field."
The Apsley Cup is race eight on the program.
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