Transformed galloper back for the spring

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Sadler's Lake, a four-year-old son of High Chaparral, is set to resume from a Brisbane winter campaign in the TAB Supports Jockeys Trust Handicap (1400m) after a slashing trial behind Joe Pride's trio of classy sprinters Ball Of Muscle, Craftiness, and Terravista.

In three Queensland starts, Sadler's Lake won the Group III Rough Habit (2000m) before meritorious runs in the Group III Grand Prix (2020m) and Group I Queensland Derby (2200m).

At his last two starts, Sadler's Lake fell victim to fast tempos and horrendous barrier draws.

But if you were to ask Waller what he thought of Sadler's Lake's prospects 12 months before the trip to Queensland, a Group III success would have sounded far-fetched.

"He couldn't get out of his own way,” Waller said.

"But he obviously improved and ended up being very unlucky not to win a Queensland Derby.

"That's how much a High Chaparral can change but in saying that there's plenty of other ones that don't change.

"With some horses it can take a long time to figure out if they are any good but with maturity and getting up over ground, he became a different horse.”

Since making his race debut back in December of last year, Sadler's Lake has won three races and earned more than $200,000 from eight starts but Waller said he initially intends to keep the horse to benchmark races while his rating allows him to do so.

The four-year-old's current benchmark rating is 83 which has him placed on 59.5kg in Saturday's race. Tye Angland will ride from barrier one in a field of 13.

Online bookmaker Sportsbet has Sadler's Lake assessed at $10 with the imported stablemate Start Wondering holding favouritism at $2.70.

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