Little said he was in two minds whether to trial Text'n Hurley after seeing the track was almost a heavy 10 and feared the worst for her having to gallop on the testing surface. Text'n Hurley did start but Little had to wait until trial 17 after the track had become battered by the morning's heats.

"There should be a rule that says group horses be given the best available conditions and that's by having first use of the track," Little said. "We, as an industry, are keen to get the best horses the best conditions, yet old jumpers are first on the track and we're one of the last. It was very heavy and it could be detrimental to a horse's spring carnival if the surface is rough."

Group 1 winners are permitted to race in early trials, but Little's mare did not fall into that category.

The trainer said Text'n Hurley could race in Saturday's Aurie's Star Stakes at Flemington but he would make a decision later in the week. Text'n Hurley is Caulfield Cup-bound and her trial was a restrained exercise because of the heavy track.

"Damien [Oliver] said he spent most of the time avoiding heavy clods that were coming back from the rest of the field," he said. "She only really poked around and that was all I wanted her to do under conditions."

Meanwhile, Glyn Schofield is excited to be reunited with top-liner Boban in the Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, and his gifted son Chad is equally as enthusiastic about his comeback to riding at Flemington following a neck fracture.

Chad Schofield will remain on standby for Text’n Hurley if she does start in the Aurie's Star Handicap while Oliver has secured the ride on group 1-winning Sydney sprinter Tiger Tees.

Schofield snr said Chris Waller's Boban had been given two "quiet" trials and was in great shape for his return in the group 2 feature over 1200 metres. Boban is returning from a bleeding attack in the autumn and mandatory three-month stand-down.

"We're very happy with him, the two low-key trials are just typical of how Chris trains him and he appears to respond from it," he said.

In other news, trainer David Bourne said his sprinter Zamorar would accept for the Aurie's Star after missing last Saturday's meeting at Moonee Valley.

"He had a tiny abcess on his hoof since he won at [Flemington], so the extra time meant we could treat him and he's back to his best now," Bourne said.

And apprentice Jack Martin is in a Melbourne hospital with head injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Sunday. Martin was on his way home after riding at Seymour when he lost control of his car on the Hume Highway.

Paramedics airlifted Martin to The Alfred hospital before doctors stabilised him.

The Victorian Jockeys’ Association said scans were encouraging and Martin began to regain consciousness early on Monday. Martin, who is apprenticed to Mick Cerchi at Flemington, rode the winner of the last at Saturday’s Sale meeting.

With aap