Will it be third time lucky for plucky Platinum Spirit when he steps out under lights?

Platinum Spirit goes to the night gallops for the first time at Cranbourne in Victoria on Friday with trainer Kathryn Durden confident of another big run.

The five-year-old contests a A$35,000 benchmark 64 handicap over 2600 metres after two excellent seconds since arriving in Australia, both of which could have been wins.

In his first run he was beaten by the bob of the head at Mornington over 2400 metres and last start, on the tight Stawell circut, he succumbed late over 2700 metres after jockey Jarrod Fry left the one-one trail to take a clear lead all of 800 metres from home.

“He should really have won,” Durden said of the stayer raced by Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street.

“I’m not sure why he went so soon considering he was getting such a good run. That wasn’t the plan and it didn’t quite work out.

“He made a very long run and was still tough at the end so I thought it was a super effort.”

Collared in the run home by the lighter weighted Reforestation, Platinum Spirit bravely fought back to go under by one and a quarter lengths.

“He’s done really well since, he’s continued to work well and I’m very happy with him. He’s a really happy horse.”

Platinum Spirit winning on a heavy 10 track at Trentham as a two-year-old. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.There’s plenty of form in Friday night’s field, but Platinum Spirit meets Reforestation on 2kg better terms and will be suited by the bigger 1700 metre track with its long, uphill run home.

Jason Maskiell, who rode a good race on the horse in his first start, is back on board and Durden says she sees no reason why he won’t be in the money again.

Showers are forceast for the next few days in the Cranbourne area, 145km from Durden’s Moriac stable, threatening to downgrade the already soft 5 conditions.

“It’s raining here now. I’m not sure how he handles wet ground but our wet is different from wet ground in New Zealand.”

Platinum Spirit won his first race in a Trentham bog as a two-year-old and has been placed on soft tracks since, so is unlikely to be affected by any slight downgrade, especially since his Achilees heel is the lack of any real turn of foot.

Just where Durden chooses to take the horse next will depend on how he fares on Friday.

“I put in some noms for a few city meetings but they looked a bit strong. We really wanted to win with the horse first.”

Platinum Spirit races at 9.45pm NZ time at Cranbourne on Friday night.