Flemington hard-luck story looking to bounce back at Caulfield.
It's been almost a fortnight since Hedged's luckless run in the Group 2 Rising Fast Stakes at Flemington, but the pain lingers for the gelding's trainer Gavin Bedggood.
The Cranbourne horseman fears the $240,000 event was the Group 3 that got away for the Roll The Dice Racing speedster.
The son of Capitalist finished sixth, beaten two lengths by Caballus, in the 1200m event when held up until the 150m mark.
The five-year-old drops back in class and distance for Saturday's $175,000 Village Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and Bedggood just hopes he gets the chance to show how well he is going.
Hedged will start from barrier two in the 11-horse field with Beau Mertens replacing Jamie Melham in the saddle.
"I just hope he doesn't end up in an awkward spot with nowhere to go like he did last time out," Bedggood said.
"He lost all his momentum and by the time he got out the bird had flown, but he was really good through the line.
"If he wasn't going to win there, he definitely runs second with even luck, so he should be hard to beat this weekend."
The Rising Fast Stakes was just Hedged's second start for Bedggood, having started his career with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, for whom he won four of 17 starts.
At his debut for Bedggood, Hedged was beaten a nose by Jigsaw, who franked the form with a Group 2 win at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.
"He's come on from those runs and back around a corner he should get a good run from the gate," Bedggood said.
Beggood is keen to see him return to the winner's list and open up as many options as possible for the campaign ahead.
"You've got seven days into The Meteorite or you've got a fortnight into another Stakes race here and he's also a Magic Millions horse, so that might be an option later on," Bedggood said.
The $1 million The Meteorite (1200m) is the feature slot race at Cranbourne at next Saturday's Cup meeting, while the $175,000 Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) is at Caulfield the following week.
