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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Rory Hutchings has thrown down the gauntlet to lightly raced galloper Gelatin to show what he’s made of at Randwick on Saturday.

Hutchings has had a long association with the Michael Freedman-trained gelding, having ridden in all but one of his nine starts and most of his trials, and after two runs at a shorter trip this time in feels he’s ready to fire in the Midway Handicap (1600m).

Nothing went right for Gelatin in his second-up run, where he stayed at 1300m and was beaten just over 2-1/2 lengths by Able Willie at Warwick Farm, so Hutchings said he had a legitimate excuse.

Jockey Rory Hutchings (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“He needs to do something this run, he’s up to the mile,’’ he said.

“Michael has put winkers on him, I worked him in winkers the other day, he’s ready to show something for sure.

“Second-up he missed the kick which wasn’t ideal, he went to rear when they jumped and he was slow out we just got a long way back.

“It seems he’s been building to this race, the timing’s right and the conditions suit.”

Gelatin, $10 with TAB on Thursday, has won two races and both have come on heavy tracks which is a significant factor in his favour. His first-up third at Warwick Farm was also on a heavy 10.

Hutchings said while those wins were narrow he has no doubts about Gelatin in wet ground.

“He always seemed to be holding the other horses, he was a colt on both those occasions so he was probably having a bit of a think,’’ he said.

“Now he’s gelded we’re just hoping he’s more genuine.

“He always showed a lot of ability, which is why he stayed a colt for so long, I’d just like to see him have a better winning record than he’s produced so far.”

It’ll be a busy day for Hutchings with nine rides on the 11 race Randwick card including Sky Lab for Paul Perry in the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m).

He picked up the ride with the transfer of the race from last weekend and will jump on board with the knowledge he’s on a genuine performer who showed he’s in good order with his first-up win.

“He was very good in the Scone Cup, he’s obviously up 2kg but the stable is going well,’’ he said.

“We saw last start what he can do on his day, he obviously gets back but 2000m at Randwick should be up his alley.”

Of his other rides, Hutchings pointed to the Chris Waller-trained Mannerheim as an interesting mount for him in the 50 Year And Life Member Handicap (2000m).

The gelding finished down the track in the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben three weeks ago.

“He failed a little bit last start but was on a Derby path and didn’t quite make the field. He’s got some good wet track form,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting