Riding The Wave won at Ballarat last time for Smith and the astute trainer believes the five-year-old has improved with that outing under his belt.

"We're jumping up in class with Riding The Wave but I've got my fingers crossed he may be up to the challenge," the multiple group one-winning trainer told The Standard.

"We've only had him for the two starts and he's still improving. His win at Ballarat was very good.

"He got home late in the 1100-metre race so the 1200 metres should really suit. He's got a good record over the 1200 metres."

Riding The Wave's stablemates Garimperio and Vinland are also running on the nine-race Flemington program.

"Vinland is having his first run for us," he said. "Vinland came to us in great order. He's got a bit of ability.

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"He's settled into our way of training well but we'll have a better indication how well he's going after Saturday's race while Garimperio may need a run or two to get to his top."

Smith, who has stables in Warrnambool and Perth, saddles up Trap For Fools in the $250,000 Van Heemst Stakes and Chantrea in a $100,000 listed fillies and mares race at Ascot.

Fellow Warrnambool trainers Maddie Raymond, Matthew Williams, Peter Chow and Symon Wilde have runners on the Flemington card.

Last-start Werribee Cup winner Wentwood is Raymond's representative in a 2600 metre race.

Williams has last-start Warrnambool maiden winner Bella Tiara is running in a $125,000 race for three-year-old fillies.

Pres de Toi will try and register a win for Chow following two second placings at Donald and Moonee Valley while Ammoudi Bay is in a benchmark 78 for Wilde.

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