A metropolitan start awaits Fast Plan following his win in benchmark 64 company at Geelong last Sunday, according to trainer Mitch Freedman.
Fast Plan ($7) defeated El Questro and Parsifal over 1440 metres. 
“I was very confident he’d run well,” said Freedman, who is based at Ballarat after completing a move from Crossley in Victoria’s south west. 
“His first-up effort at Bendigo was solid and he’s got such a good second-up record that I thought he had to be hard to beat. 
“He’s been a very consistent horse and now deserves a crack at Flemington or Moonee Valley.”
“I’m quietly confident I’ll get him to run a strong 1600 metres this campaign. He seemed to struggle at that distance previously but he’s more mature now.”
In other stable news, Not to Know ran third in last Saturdy’s Dunkeld Cup for the young trainer and a start in the Burrumbeet Cup on New Year’s Day awaits the eight-year-old.
“Not to Know has been an honest campaigner,” Freedman said. “He’s a tough horse and I thought his Dunkeld Cup run was very good. 
“He’ll go to the Traralgon Cup (December 2) before Burrumbeet.”
Not to Know took his stake earnings past $100,000 with his placing at Dunkeld.
Cup is looking up
Warrnambool Racing Club is bracing for a huge inaugural Jericho Cup race day on Sunday week, December 2.
The club is expecting more than 2500 patrons on course for the running of the $300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m), recreating a race held by Australian mounted troops in Palestine during the First World War.
“The bookings for the meeting are above our expectations,” said club CEO Peter Downs said. “Going by our early numbers it’s going to be bigger than our Woodford and Koroit meetings, which is a wonderful result. The phones keep on ringing.
Sections of the Jericho Cup will be run through the open country and nine permanent fences usually used in the Grand Annual Steeplechase had to be removed last year in preparation.
“It’s a history-making race,” Downs said. “It will be an amazing sight to see horses running through the paddocks without any fences.”
The field for the Jericho Cup, which is restricted to Australian- and New Zealand-bred horss, will be determined by points earned in a series of lead-up races across Australia.
The Darren Weir-trained Truly High raced into contention by winning the Jericho Cup qualifier at Moonee Valley last Friday night, while local trainer Symon Wilde is hoping to run star jumper Gold Medals and Doc Holliday.
A field of 12 runners and four emergencies will be declared, with a $40,000 consolation race added to the meeting should 10 or more horses be ballotted out.
Acceptances close at noon this Tuesday, November 20.
The Jericho Cup is a highweight flat race, with jumps jockeys to ride. Champion jumps hoop Steven Pateman is among those looking to secure a mount.
Dunkeld flags bar boost
Dunkeld Racing Club officials have pledged to make much needed infrastructure improvements for next year’s meeting, after a record crowd tested patrons’ patience last Saturday.
Officials were stunned by the size of the crowd at Australia’s most picturesque racecourse, at the foot of the Grampians. 
“It was a massive day,” said manager Lisa Evans.  
“We normally get around 10,000 patrons. This year we thought we might get 10,500 people but we ended up with 12,000, which really tested our infrastructure. 
“I suppose the main thing discussed at Sunday’s debrief was the long queues at the bars. We’ve got to put extra bars in place.”
Evans, who is in her first year as manager, said the club would apply for funding to Country Racing Victoria to help boost infrastructure.
“We’ve got to tweak a few things here and there to make sure everyone enjoys the racing experience at Dunkeld and wants to come back.”