Co-trainer Scott Cameron had his first metropolitan winner this month and will venture interstate for the first time with The Thug at Rosehill on Saturday.
Cameron commenced a training partnership with his father Russell at Flemington towards the end of May and the combination went close to a city double when I Boogi scored at Sandown on July 12 where The Thug finished runner-up to import Global Gentl over 2100m.
On Saturday, The Thug will tackle the Benchmark 85 over 2000m and Scott said there are several compelling reasons for making the trip.
"The main thing is the distance. We were looking for a similar race here in Melbourne but there wasn't one," Cameron said.
"There is a race at Sandown tomorrow (1800m) but we didn't want to come back in distance.
"On top of that the race at Rosehill is worth $100,000, he's sure of a start and he's going really well."
A six-year-old son of Authorized, The Thug commenced his career in New South Wales before being transferred to Russell Cameron as a three-year-old.
Winless since scoring over 2100m at Sandown last September, Cameron is also thinking the trip away will revitalise The Thug.
"He's a bit older now and, even though he's going well, I thought that a trip away will spark him up," Cameron said.
"He's as fit as we can get him after five starts now and has pleased me since the Sandown race.
"It's difficult to line up the form but if he can repeat his effort from the last start then I think he's definitely a chance. We certainly aren't going just for the sake of it."
