His efforts in winning at Newcastle and being placed second at Wyong in barrier trials should ensure the Anabaa three-year-old is hard in the market for the Mineby Maiden Plate (900 metres).

Skanabaa was a $200,000 purchase at the Magic Millions sales at the Gold Coast as a yearling.

Smith was excited about the purchase, but for a while the experienced trainer was worried "big time" over the youngster.

"He could gallop from day one, but he was timid, almost frightened, when he got to the track," Smith said.

"He was scared to go into the barriers and all we could do was work on him continually to show him that he would be all right in the stalls.

"We kept putting him through the barriers at home and at the course, and slowly he gained confidence.

"When we finally got him to the official barrier trials I just held my breath, but he jumped OK at both Newcastle and Wyong.

"He is now ready to go to the races, and I would say he is the best of my runners on Saturday."

Meanwhile, Rosehill trainer Tony Olsen said he wanted to step up his impressive last-start Newcastle winner Pickupsticks in distance but "there was no suitable race about for him".

Pickupsticks looked above average when he came from third last to storm home and win a 1400m maiden at Newcastle two weeks ago.

Today he starts in the Maxim Benchmark 60 handicap (1400m) at Broadmeadow.

"He is a New Zealand-bred galloper which will not be at his best until he gets up to 2000 or further," Olsen said.

The win at Newcastle was at his second start after he had failed after being knocked about during an 1100m race at Wyong.

"I was looking for a suitable mile race (1600m) for him but there was nothing about," Olsen said.