Happy Trails faces a major test at Flemington on Saturday, but it is one trainer Paul Beshara is more than relaxed about.

The gelding will line up in the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m), fresh from a tenacious win in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley three weeks ago.

That was over 1600 metres and Happy Trails has tackled the longer distance just once before - at Randwick last year when he finished runner-up to subsequent Queensland Derby winner Shootoff.

But Beshara has no doubt the five-year-old will acquit himself well over the 2000m journey at Flemington after making an effortless recovery from his last victory.

"He doesn't take a lot of work, he's done a couple of gallops and that's about it," Beshara said.

"He'll handle the 2000 and that's a very good field, that Turnbull. It's as good a field as you're going to get in Australia.

"All your top guns are in there."

A field of 16 plus one emergency was paid up for the Turnbull on Wednesday including Southern Speed, December Draw, Ethiopia, Rekindled Interest and Green Moon.

Beshara is expecting a bold run from Happy Trails but regardless of his performances in this spring's feature races, Beshara says the $11,000 buy has already excelled.

"Even now he's been a fairytale," he said.

"He's won in Adelaide and Melbourne and run some bloody good races in Sydney.

"For $11,000, he's by Good Journey and he's taken everyone on a good journey."

Beshara said Happy Trails had made remarkable progress since returning from his winter spell which followed an unlucky sixth in the Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.

"That's been the secret," Beshara said.

"When he came back from Sydney he went out for a six week spell and he came back in and had put on about 50 kilos but he was mentally more attuned."

Beshara added Happy Trails had attracted a strong following, mainly because of his racing style.

"I think he's a horse for the public, the public love him.

"We go to the races and you'll always see people come down to the stalls and gather around him.

"I think it was his early racing style which was to get well back and then fly home and I think people in general just like that sort of horse."

Happy Trails will start from barrier one and Beshara says his only concern is that he keeps his position at the start.

"You've just got to jump out and hope too many don't cross you," he said.

"But barrier one could help him because he's not going to be doing any work. It's not like he draws 16 and he has to come and work his heart out."