A year after giving Midnight Moose his first trial, at age four, Canberra trainer Rob Potter is dreaming of a Country Championships campaign and a first Highway Handicap win with the “highly strung” talent.

Midnight Moose has had three wins and a second in five career starts, after making his debut in January at Goulburn.

Potter, who has trained five city wins without success in the country Saturday Highway races, said Midnight Moose has been injury free but proven a handful to get to the races.

“He’s a strong bugger and it’s taken a few blokes to sort him out,” Potter said.

“He’s had no injury issues at all. The only injury is in his head, I think. But he’s settled right down and he’s a nice horse.

“He’s just a highly strung bugger, and he’s just taken time. He’s a big horse, close to 17 hands.”

Midnight Moose won his first two starts at Goulburn, before having a spell. He was 11th first-up at Moruya before winning at home then finishing second last start at Goulburn.

Potter was unsure how far the raw talent could go and Saturday’s 1300m class 3 was another step in the journey. “He is still learning, but this is a nice sort of step up,” he said.

“He’s got nice speed, and he’s been tough. The only time he got well beaten, he probably should have won. We went back and just couldn’t get a crack at them.

“Obviously, this is a deep race, but you’ve got to try them and throw them in the deep end.

“He just keeps progressing and he’ll be right there, I reckon. If he measures up, he might be a Country Championship horse. That’s what we’re all aiming for, I guess … I think next time he will be settled down even more. He still overraces a bit. Still raw, so he needs more time, even though I know he’s five.”

He said former South African Damon Budler, who has ridden Midnight Moose in every start, had been instrumental in getting the gelding on track. Budler, 43, has also been a late bloomer, racking up 203 wins after starting with Potter as an apprentice.

He will be chasing a first city winner on Saturday when he sticks with Midnight Moose, his only ride on the day.

“The fellow riding him does a great job,” Potter said.

“He knows him inside out, and you wouldn’t be putting someone on that didn’t know him.”

Potter plans to have another crack at the Highway series the following Saturday at Randwick with Famosa, which was sixth at Canterbury last start.

“He’s a nice little horse that ran here last week and was really good late,” he said.