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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Mark Newnham won’t be rushing in-form sprinter Black Magnum into his spring team but will watch with plenty of interest how the gelding handles several obstacles at Rosehill on Saturday.

There’s no doubting the four-year-old has been super impressive in his two midweek wins this preparation and the Cabra Bowls Handicap (1200m) represents an opportunity to get a handle on his level.

“This time he’s up in grade, up in weight and up in distance,’’ Newnham said.

“He has to carry the full weight, go to 1200m and he’s coming onto good ground. They are the things that are different in the equation.

“Usually they are three factors you don’t really like to add together but I think he is going well enough to overcome them.’’

Black Magnum has been apprentice ridden in his two wins but with Robbie Dolan on holidays and Chris Williams suspended Newnham has handed the reins to Nash Rawiller.

In his latest win at Canterbury he worked early to offset a wide gate and still ran his last 600m in 34.55 and his last 200m of 11.66 (Punter's Intelligence) was second best of the race.

Black Magnum wins at Canterbury on July 24

“He’s bounced through that really well and he’s started to clean up in the coat,’’ Newnham said.

“His work has been really good so I would expect he will be very hard to beat.

“I don’t want to get him out of the ratings system this time around. Sooner or late there will be a cap on how far he can go class wise but we don’t want to empty the tank this preparation.

“If he’s going to progress to a better level it will possibly be in the autumn when we are likely to get wet tracks.’’

TAB rated Black Magnum a $2.70 chance, as at Thursday, to complete the hat-trick.

Newnham’s spring team is amping up with Australian Oaks runner-up Scarlet Dream and promising colt Deep Sea in action at Friday’s Warwick Farm trials while Group 1 winner Nakeeta Jane and Greysful Glamour hit the trials at Randwick on Monday.

Nakeeta Jane, who has already trialled once, is set to resume in the Group 3 Show County (1200m) at Randwick on August 24 and jockey Josh Parr gave Newnham a glowing report after trackwork earlier this week.

“Josh came and rode her on Monday morning on the course proper and he was very taken by her,’’ he said.

“She’s bigger and stronger, aware of her work and I’d expect she will be pretty close to her best this preparation.

“I’m happy with the way they are all going but hopefully I’m just as happy at the end of the spring.’’

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