Hot Snitzel is looking to put rumours of a second-up failure to rest when he runs in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill this Saturday.

The top three-year-old has a history of below average performances when having his second race start of a campaign, but trainer Gerald Ryan believes that this weekend will be a different story.

“There have been excuses,” Ryan said.

“He did heaps wrong at his second start in a race.

“His next second-up start was in the Golden Slipper and then the other one was in the straight race, the Coolmore.”

Hot Snitzel proved he deserved his place amongst the top echelon of racing once again last start, whilst beating star gelding Manawanui to win the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes at Warwick Farm Racecourse on February 18.

Despite his confidence, Ryan is cautious of meeting Manawanui once again this Saturday.

Manawanui has drawn a wide barrier of 10 for the race, while Hot Snitzel will jump from gate four.

“If the track is heavy it might be advantageous to be wide,” Ryan said.

“Manawanui is the horse to beat.”

Hot Snitzel has won five of his 12 race starts to date and has earned more than $610,000 in prize money.

The Snitzel gelding was purchased from the 2010 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $60,000 and has since gone on to win races such as the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes and finish second in the Group 1 TJ Smith at Eagle Farm.

Manawanui became the story of the spring after his connections paid the costly late entry fee into the $1 million Golden Rose, with the horse subsequently winning the race.

The Oratorio gelding went on to finish a close second to Helmet in the Caulfield Guineas before winning Group 2 Mitchelton Wine Vase last October.