Expectations have been high surrounding Ranting since he won a three-horse race at Caulfield more than 12 months ago.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained galloper defeated Hanseatic and Anders in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in October last year and in eight starts since has filled a place on only two occasions.
Ranting is the only one of the three still racing with Hanseatic retired after one more start while Anders raced on only twice more.
“It’s hard to say whether that took a lot from him, but his form was varied,” Troy Corstens said.
“It might have, and it has taken a while for him to come back, but he seems back on track now.”
Corstens is expecting the four-year-old son of Zoustar to rebound into winning form when he contests the David Bourke Memorial Handicap (1200m) at Pakenham on Saturday.
The 1200m contest will be run out of the extended chute on Saturday, the first time a race over that trip will be run.
Ranting will be lining up for the fourth start of his preparation on Saturday.
He finished fourth first-up at The Valley behind Dexelation over 1000m on Cox Plate Day before stepping up to 1200m and finishing down the track behind Quantico in the Listed MSS Security Sprint at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
At his last start, Ranting did not get a lot of clear galloping room when a close-up third to Aquagirl in the Magic Million 3YO & 4YO Classic (1100m) at Ballarat on November 20.
“I think he’s back to full fitness on Saturday and the 1200 metres should suit,” Corstens said.
“It looks a great race for him, Pakenham should be a nice even track and I think he can definitely win.
“He’s a four-year-old stallion now and he’s just taken a bit longer to come to hand than we thought, and the blinkers go back on Saturday as well.
“They should help him concentrate and bit.”
