Sennachie's Confidence Boosting Cup Trial

After the bitter disappointment of seeing favourite Sennachie fall in the Group 1 Topgun, Steve White's Melbourne Cup aspirations received a massive boost when the dual Group 1 winner trialled sensationally in preparation for Friday night's Cup heats.

Sennachie clocked a blistering 29.13s in his Sandown Park trial on Sunday, reassuring White he was spot on for his tilt at the $435,000 to-the-winner Melbourne Cup.

However, White's excitement was then tempered on Tuesday when the all-important box draws for the heats were unveiled, with Sennachie allocated box eight in a mouth-watering clash with classy rails runner Flynn.

Sennachie hasn't raced since he started $3.50 favourite in the Topgun invitational at The Meadows on November 9, but fell on the first turn when in a prominent position.

"After the fall, his trial was a good confidence booster for myself, not the dog," White explained.

"He came out of the fall pretty well. There were just a few minor things I had to work on.

"The trial showed that physically he's fine and mentally he seems fine but he's still got to go and race in a field on Friday night."

While the son of the great Fernando Bale, which was edged out by superstar kennelmate Dyna Double One in an unforgettable finish to the 2015 Melbourne Cup, has only won one of four career starts from box eight he's TAB's $2.40 favourite for the sixth of eight cut-throat heats.

His main rival Flynn, which defeated another high profile Cup contender in NSW cult hero Feral Franky when winning the Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star at Sandown in May, posting a blistering 29.08s, made an impressive return to Victoria last Thursday after a stint in NSW when winning a Cup prelude in 29.43s.

After drawing the prized rails alley, Flynn, which is now prepared by four-time Melbourne Cup winner Jason Thompson, is the $2.50 second elect.

"Box eight isn't really what you want in Group 1 races," White said.

"He's really going to have to charge out and probably run a personal best to the winning post.

"But the seven (Last Hurrah) doesn't come out and the six (Often Imitated) goes to the fence.

"I'm not really worried about the other dogs; it's all up to him now."

White has two other Cup contenders in Chief Fernando (heat 1, box 5) and Tauwitchere (heat 3, box 1), which brilliantly won the Group 2 Launching Pad at Sandown in April.

Both have been competing over middle distances recently, with Chief Fernando a finalist in the Group 1 Hume Cup at The Meadows earlier in the month.

Tauwitchere is TAB's $3.90 second elect in the third run-off, with Topgun hero Get It Gizmo the $2.80 favourite, while Chief Fernando is a $12 outsider in the opening qualifier, where Whiskey Riot ($2.40) and exciting youngster Simon Told Helen ($3) head betting.

"Tauwitchere is better off out wide but in these races you want to be near the fence," White said.

"She won off the red in Adelaide early in her career, although we're talking about a different class of dog. She's also had the red in a couple of 600s at The Meadows recently and she led both times. She won once and was run down on the line by Rajasthan the other time.

"She looks to be in a winnable race.

"Chief Fernando would have to lead. There's a bit of pace in his race but his last couple of runs have been super and if he spears out he's a chance."

Sennachie's litter brother Red Rock, also prepared by White, is first reserve for heat seven and is certainly capable of making his presence felt if he gains a start after an eye-catching and unlucky last start third in a prelude.

White is hoping to secure his second Melbourne Cup finalist, with his champion bitch Paua To Burn finishing sixth to Closing Argument in the 2005 Cup Final.