Whether Just Folk takes his place in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes will ultimately depend on how much rain falls at the Gold Coast ahead of the Group 2 event.

Trainer Gavin Bedggood has entered the eight-year-old for the 1800m contest but says soft ground is essential for his horse to be competitive in such a deep field.

“He’s bounced out of his last run, he did some work on Saturday morning and the team was happy with him, but it’ll be either Saturday or Saturday week,” Bedggood said.

“The horses that are going there on Saturday, he needs heavy ground to be competitive with them, so if it’s not heavy he won’t run.”

If conditions are too firm, Just Folk will instead be kept fresh for the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on May 17 over the shorter 1600m trip.

While the weather forecast shows some rain across the week, only moderate totals are expected, with Friday’s prediction of up to 8mm potentially decisive.

Just Folk excelled on wet ground last year when finishing second in a Heavy 10 version of the Hollindale behind Numerian at the Sunshine Coast.

His current campaign has featured a Group 3 win in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and a midfield finish in the Brisbane Handicap (1600m) after a tough Doncaster Mile run in between.

He also landed the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) before last year’s Hollindale and Bedggood believes the gelding is in peak condition once again.

“I think he’s going as good as he ever has,” Bedggood said.

“I thought he was not ridden to suit last start, the jockey came in and admitted fault, so he definitely should have finished right amongst the money.

“I think he’s going every bit as good as he was 12 months ago.”

Currently priced at $26 for the Hollindale, Just Folk faces competition from top contenders including Buckaroo ($3.50), Lindermann ($4.50), Antino, Eliyass, and Fawkner Park.