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By Neil Evans

It’s not often a maiden galloper with only five runs under his belt in well over two years can launch quickly on to a new level, but an untapped five-year-old fits the bill at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting.

Irish-bred Man Of Worth ($6 into $5.50 on TAB) has had only one start for the Chris Waller stable since arriving Down Under in early spring last year.

Pink Persuasion (Tim Clark) heads to the barriers – the filly is favourite for Race 2 at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Image by Bradley Photographers

That was a close second in a very plain affair in country Victoria nine months ago before the gelding was spelled.

Prior to that, Man Of Worth had produced only moderate maiden form back home in Ireland across four very spaced runs, enough to convince connections at the time he was worth selling to Australia.

Yet being by unbeaten Group 1-winning superstar Sea The Stars and out of an Irish mare by fellow unbeaten UK star Tamayuz, his new team was prepared to show all the patience it took to get him to perform.

And just maybe, that long wait is about to pay dividends in the Petaluma Maiden Plate at set weights over 1400m where Man Of Worth can establish himself as a potential summer headline grabber.

Man Of Worth finally reloads behind two improving trials, the latest strong through the line under a good hold over 1200m and is well treated at the weights after apprentice jockey Siena Grima’s 3kg claim.

Mind you, punters might be forgiven for not knowing which way to turn in the race, with the Waller yard represented by nine of the 13 runners. Man Of Worth is on the third line of betting at $5.50 with stablemate Miss Lola.

Another from the Waller stable Pink Persuasion is the $4.40 into $4.20 favourite, with the Ciaron Maher-trained War King also well-supported at $4.80 (in from $5).

The meeting is likely to be run on a firm surface with little or no rain in the lead-up, and the rail in the True position.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Warwick Farm here