Jerome Hunter from Mornington looks ahead to Wonder Boy’s mile effort returning to his base track this time around.

The gelding appears in Saturday’s No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (1600m) at Mornington, prior to a likely Brisbane journey for the four-year-old.

Hunter mentioned lacking any worries about the 1600m for Wonder Boy presently, the gelding much stronger than his three-year-old self from 11 months ago over that distance.

After taking the 1400m Bendigo Guineas in April last year, Hunter headed to Brisbane with Wonder Boy for the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m).

Leading the pace initially, Wonder Boy faltered to sixth position late.

“He didn’t get much of a chance up at Eagle Farm that day when nothing went right for him,” Hunter said.

“He was up on speed, there was a lot going on, and it didn’t suit him.

“Back on his home track, he’ll be ridden more conservatively, and we’ll see whether he gets the trip or not.”

Wonder Boy remains winless post his April Bendigo score last year, but Hunter took reassurance from the recent 1400m second at Rosehill, with travel suiting the gelding well.

“He’s done well since Sydney and he has done really well this preparation,” Hunter said.

“Last start, he came up against a pretty good horse, I think.”

Hunter plans another Brisbane foray this year, seeking entry for Wonder Boy into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm during June.

“He would need to get his rating up, but that would be a lovely race to try and get him into,” Hunter said.

“If we get him up there early enough there are some nice lead-up races along the way.”

Visit trusted betting sites for the latest odds on Wonder Boy in the No Fuss Event Hire Handicap.