A decision by Wagga trainer Dave Heywood to stick to a sprinting regime with Calke Abbey this preparation is reaping rich rewards.

Calke Abbey lines up on his home track Friday seeking a hat trick of wins in the Sumo Salad Wagga Benchmark 60 Hcp (1000m).

Last campaign Heywood tried to stretch Calke Abbey out to 1600m but the gelding wasn’t mature enough to handle the rise in distance.

“He’s a five-year-old but looks like a three-year-old,” Heywood said. “He’s bred to run further but I tried to get him out to 1600 metres last time in but he wasn’t mature enough to handle the stress.

“The key has been to keep him fresh as a sprinter.”

Calke Abbey is by Refuse To Bend out of Marie De Guise, who was raced by Calke Abbey’s owner, Sydney-based breeder Andrew Newman.

“Andrew and I have had a bit of luck racing the family,” Heywood said. “Marie De Guise has had three foals – Calke Abbey, Godolphin House and a two-year-old.

“They can all gallop.”

Calke Abbey resumed from a 120-day spell with a smashing 3.3 length win in a 1000m Class 2 handicap at Corowa on July 7 then backed up to score by 1.3 lengths in a Wagga 1000m Benchmark 60 event on August 8.

On both occasions Calke Abbey raced off the early pace but hit the line with gusto.

“He’s certainly in good form,” Heywood added. “He was real impressive at Corowa with a light weight and it was a pretty good win at Wagga with 56.5 kilos.

“He goes up in weight again Friday but when you keep winning they don’t miss you at the weights.”

Calke Abbey rises to 61.5kg but drops 2kg after apprentice Megan Taylor’s 2kg claim.

Heywood believes Calke Abbey still has maturing to do.

“He’s medium sized, probably a tick under 16 hands but he’s not a robust horse,” Heywood said. “I’ve been trying to get some weight on him but it’s taking time.

“At the moment I’m happy to keep him as a pure sprinter. Given time when he matures he might get further.”