Chris Waller has built his reputation on turning raw two-year-olds into Group 1-winning three-year-olds, and Providence could be the latest colt to fit that mould. Still a maiden, the Wootton Bassett youngster has shown enough in three starts to suggest he has a bright future ahead.

Providence finished third on debut at Randwick in May before running fourth in both the Listed Phoenix (1500m) and Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane. Waller has often used the Queensland winter carnival as a grounding for future stars, a strategy that has produced champions like The Autumn Sun, Zoustar and Press Statement.

“He did really well in the J J Atkins. He drew wide and got back on a day that it was impossible to make up ground,” Waller said.

“He overcame a few biases that day and showed us he has got the makings of a nice horse.”

Providence will resume in Saturday’s Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, facing six rivals including stablemates Sixties and Fermoy. A strong performance could put him on track for the Golden Rose (1400m) later in the month.

“He is by Wootton Bassett and he’s a lovely, scopey horse,” Waller said. “He is definitely a Spring Champion Stakes horse but I’m hoping he might find more speed and get to a Golden Rose. Who knows?”

Sixties impressed with a seven-length Kensington maiden win earlier this month, while Fermoy hinted at progress when closing hard into fourth on heavy ground at Rosehill first-up.

“He hit a flat spot on a couple of the wet spots and he has finished off well,” Waller said. “He has matured as a three-year-old so forget his two-year-old form. He’s a new horse.”

Another stablemate, Central Coast, was also nominated but was withdrawn following a trial at Rosehill on Thursday.

Punters eager to follow Providence’s run in the Up And Coming Stakes can explore markets and odds across Australia’s top betting sites.