Stamina trial for Witness

Star Witness on Saturday kick-starts a campaign that will tell trainer Danny O'Brien if his stable star can add a Group 1 "mile" to his CV.

O'Brien, mindful of the total sprint dominance of Black Caviar, has mapped out a preparation towards the 1600m Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 5.

Star Witness, who ran a gallant, albeit distant, second behind Black Caviar in the 1200m Patinack Farm Classic on the final day of the VRC carnival, runs in the 1200m Listed Wellington Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, which will parlay into the 1400m C.S.Hayes Stakes at Flemington a fortnight later and then, hopefully, the Guineas.

Star Witness, a winner of two Group 1s, including last year's Blue Diamond, has never raced beyond 1200m.

Steven Arnold takes over on the colt from James Winks, who rode the horse when he won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day.

Star Witness had a jumpout at Flemington on Friday, a hitout that pleased O'Brien and Arnold.

"He's in really good shape and certainly hasn't lost anything," Arnold said.

He said the Hayes Stakes would provide an insight as to whether the colt could stretch to 1600m.

Story by Adrian Dunn, to view full Herald Sun story click here

Photo by Slickpix, to view Slickpix website click here