Trainer Guy Walter has revealed that he plans to take the in-form Toydini to Melbourne after he runs in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5.

Toydini is a chance to contest the Crystal Mile and Emirates Stakes during the 2013 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart

Toydini gained himself a start in the Epsom Handicap with his impressive victory in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle last week and Walter is already looking ahead to big races in Melbourne later in the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

The veteran trainer told Racing Ahead that the Bernardini gelding still has plenty of improvement ahead of him and will contest the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 26 and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 9 if he impresses in the Epsom next Saturday.

“He is just improving all the time and he has the potential to be a top class horse,” Walter said on RSN.

“We are hoping that he can go to Melbourne and run in the Crystal Mile and the Emirates.

“I suppose that depends a bit on how he goes in the Epsom but he is a horse that had a good spell after the autumn and he races best when his races are spaced.

“We were only ever going to give him three runs in Sydney so there is plenty left for Melbourne.

“We will see how we get on and it is one step at a time but I think he will run very well in the Epsom.”

Walter looked as though he would need to find a new jockey for Toydini, with regular hoop Blake Shinn unable to make the 53kg, but the retirement of Shoot Out means that the weights for the Epsom Handicap have been increased by one kilogram giving Shinn the chance to claim the ride.

Shinn and Walter combined to win the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) with Streama on Saturday and Shinn was quick to pay tribute to the veteran trainer after the race.

Shinn said that Walter and his wife were like family to him and Walter clearly feels just as strongly about the Melbourne Cup winning jockey.

“He is a great supporter of mine as well,” Walter said.

“We are a great combination and work well together.

“Not only is he an outstanding jockey but he is very smart when giving an assessment of horses and where they are at.

“He is extremely dedicated and puts a great deal of thought into even maiden horses that he rides at the stable.

“He is a tremendous asset to my stable.”

Walter currently dominates 2013 Epsom Handicap betting markets with Toydini ($5.50) and Streama ($8) the clear favourites.