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By Ray Hickson

All roads lead to next month’s Scone Cup for Country Championships winner Know Thyself as co-trainer Paul Messara looks forward to getting him out to the mile at Randwick on Saturday.

The promising four-year-old steps out of country grade for the first time this preparation in the TAB Handicap (1600m) and will face a test of his potential with the 61kg.

That’s offset not by any claim but by the fact little dead weight will be needed with regular jockey Aaron Bullock, who generally rides around 58kg, staying on board.

Messara, who co-trains with Leah Gavranich, said Know Thyself has come through his narrow win in the Final three weeks ago bouncing and ready for his pet trip.

“It was a good win and we’ve got no issues going into it,’’ Messara said.

“He should run a nice mile and that’ll set him up nicely for the Scone Cup.

“The mile is where he wanted to be last start, fitness wise he should be fine, it’s three weeks between runs and the horse is feeling well so he should be spot on.

“Hopefully he can hit the line strongly again and if he does we should be more than competitive.”

Know Thyself wins the Country Championships Final

From a slightly wide gate in the Final, Bullock was able to position the gelding around midfield and he needed most of the straight to run Lisztomania down at his third 1400m run for the prep.

Know Thyself, $2.50 with TAB on Thursday, already has a Group 3 placing from the Winx Guineas last winter, over a mile on a heavy track, and Messara said at that distance from a suitable gate in six he’s well placed.

“It gives him the option to fall into a nice place without too much pressure,’’ he said.

Country Championships winners have a habit of training on to better things.

Most notable have been Clearly Innocent (2016) who went on to win at Group 1 level and Victorem (2019) was a Group 2 winner, while among others Art Cadeau won The Kosciuszko and Another One is a stakes winner.

“He’s definitely a Group horse, there’s no doubt about that,’’ Messara said.

“He’s working his way through his paces and it’ll be interesting to see how far he goes.

“Probably a mile to 2000m, as he strengthens up and matures, is probably going to be his pet trip. Group races over that mile to 2000m is probably where he fits.”

Meanwhile, Messara was planning to run Intervarsity at Randwick on Saturday but a bruised foot has him looking for a Plan B to get her to the Scone carnival.

The winner of the Hunter & North West Country Championships ran 11th in the Final.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting