Just Folk is set to make his long-awaited reappearance at Sandown.
A year can be a long time in racing especially with a horse on the sidelines.
It will be a year and one week by the time Just Folk makes it back to the racetrack for the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
The last time Just Folk was seen at the races was when finishing last behind Antino in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Clast on May 10 last year.
The gelding was being prepared for a spring campaign and had two jump-outs under the belt but tweaked a suspensory that put him on the sidelines.
"He was ready to go to the races in the spring, but we just had to pull up," trainer Gavin Bedggood said.
"He trialled up and had trialled really well, but after his last one he had the slightest bit of inflammation which we investigated further.
"It was nothing too serious and it forced him to go to the paddock and it's just a timing thing with him.
"The tracks are too firm in the autumn, so he had an extended break and he's back for the winter months."
Bedggood said Just Folk had been in work since December in preparation for a winter campaign and after a jump-out and a trial at Moe was ready for his return.
"He's trialled up really well," Bedggood said.
"He's got no soundness issues, but he hasn't raced in 12 months, and I would imagine he will need the run, but he is forward enough to be more than competitive.
"He's been in work since the start of December, so he's had a long, slow, building preparation."
Bedggood will be aiming to have Just Folk peaking at the third run of his campaign.
The trainer said that is when the gelding has performed at his best.
The Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington or the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill appeal.
Both races are run on July 4.
"The Winter Championship is a possibility, but there's a Stakes race at Rosehill on the same day and he does have a good record at that track and trip, so that may be an option too," Bedggood said.
"I think every run third-up for us he has won, so that will be the aim to get to one of those races third-up in the prep."
