As an early two-year-old Glowing Embers was considered by Canberra trainer Nick Olive as a frontline Black Opal Stakes contender.

Cruelly, those plans were curtailed when the colt fractured a knee in trackwork and, following an operation, veterinarians gave him little chance of ever racing.

On Sunday at Gundagai, Glowing Embers will be out to again defy initial medical opinion when he steps out in the Supreme Class 1 Hcp (1000m).

"He always showed us a lot, above-average ability, enough to consider him a good Black Opal Stakes chance," Olive said.

"After he fractured a knee the vets gave him only a 40 per cent chance of racing.

"Thankfully, he's come back and come back good."

After a long recuperation period, Olive trialled the son of Tobougg at Canberra on July 11 and he finished fourth, untested, in a 900m heat.

The colt then scored a 1-1/4-length win on debut in a 1080m Canberra maiden on July 23 when he sat second before forging well clear inside the 175m.

"We got $9.70," Olive said.

"We did back him. He'd trialled well and I was surprised he started those odds.

"I've been very happy with him since Canberra.

"He's continued to go ahead. There's been no troubles with the knee.

"I've got an opinion of him. Hopefully he can race through his grades."

Glowing Embers is raced by Dr Callum Beaton, Roz Beaton and John and Helen Thompson who bred the promising colt.

Glowing Embers, who drew barrier three, will be ridden by Richard Bensley who was aboard the colt in his maiden win.

"Sunday looks a nice race for him, I'm happy leading into the race," Olive said.

Olive will saddle up several other runners at the meeting including handy mares The Catwalk Star (Brendan Ward) and Merci Grand (Bensley) in the Gundagai Mini Storage Hcp (1400m).

The Catwalk Star, the winner of seven from 38 starts, is second-up and history suggests the six-year-old Catbird mare improves substantially with a run under her belt.

"Provided the track isn't too bad she will run well," Olive said.

"She's going well. The step up to 1400 metres is in her favour.

"Merci Grand finished third in a pretty strong race last time, is racing real well and a definite chance, although up in grade."

Merci Grand was a last-start third to Senhor da Gama and Quick As A Fox in a 1280m event at Canberra on July 23.