Knoydart will make a hit and run Brisbane Winter Carnival mission when he runs in the Group 2 $200,000 National Fire Industry Association QLD Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Knoydart will make a hit and run mission in the Victory Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

The John O’Shea trained Knoydart will only have the one run in Brisbane before heading to Adelaide for the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21.

Knoydart showed glimpses of his best form with a narrow second last start to Music Magnate in the Group 3 $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 16.

O’Shea puts the return to form down to the blinkers going on and it certainly made a difference after the six year old was beaten almost thirteen lengths at his previous start when fourteenth to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.

“We tried blinkers on him last start and it seemed to make a difference. He’s continued to do well at home and he’s travelled up to Brisbane well and is in good order,” O’Shea said.

Knoydart showed a heap of promise in the early part of his career with five wins from his first fifteen starts but has failed to find the winner’s stall from his next fifteen, although he has been place at Group 1 level on three occasions.

During the 2014 Melbourne Autumn Carnival Knoydart finished third to Lankan Rupee twice in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield and in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

His other Group 1 placing came during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival when he stormed home late to finish second to Hot Snitzel in the Group 1 $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben.

Knoydart has drawn well at barrier three in the nine horse Victory Stakes with former South African jockey Robbie Fradd taking the mount.

Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop heads the market order for the Victory Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au at $1.65 while Knoydart shares the second line of betting at $6 with the Todd Willan trained Artlee.

Victory Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.65 Fell Swoop, $6 Artlee, Knoydart, $7.50 Didntcostalot, $18 Fontelina, Famous Seamus, $41 Pinch River, Choice Bro, $51 Rock Royalty.