Spechenka will likely face a slow tempo in their next race at Eagle Farm

Spechenka will have to contend with a likely slow tempo when he runs in this weekend’s brisbanetimes.com.au Handicap at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

The race will be a practise run for the six-year-old gelding’s scheduled Group 3 Newcastle Cup attempt later this month.

Trainer Ben Aherns had also nominated Spechenka for today’s Wyong Cup.

“He was entered for the Wyong Cup and got 55.5 kilos but he was better placed here even though he’s got 58.5 kilos,” Ahrens said.

“I thought his (last) run was very good.

“He settled into his normal racing pattern which I wanted to see and they broke 35 seconds for the final 600 metres.

“He had to run a faster sectional as he was making good ground on the leaders even with 59 kilos.”

Spechenka’s style is suited to races with ample genuine speed.

“I haven’t had a good look at the field yet but there doesn’t look to be a lot of speed in the race which is a worry,” Ahrens said.

“Despite that I’ll still be disappointed if he’s not really competitive this time.”

After Spechenka’s Newcastle Cup run, Aherns will consider targeting the horse towards a start in the $6 million Melbourne Cup.

“He’s qualified for the Melbourne Cup after winning a Group race further than 2300 metres in the last 12 months,” Aherns said.

“I wanted to run him in the Queensland Cup during the winter carnival but he wasn’t quite ready to go 3200 metres after winning the Caloundra Cup.”

The trainer is also not willing to rule out a Caulfield Cup start for Spechenka.

“The Caulfield Cup is a definite option but I don’t know how he’d go getting around Caulfield,” he said.