It will be hard to find a more imposing formline for a midweek race than the one country galloper Double Halo brings to Canterbury on Wednesday.

Double Halo went closer to beating It's A Dundeel than any horse during last year's unbeaten Sydney spring campaign of racing's latest superstar.

But whether that is enough to translate into a city win of his own in the Testa Rossa @ Vinery Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday is far from certain in the eyes of trainer Luke Griffith.

"I'd prefer the race to be at Rosehill or Randwick because he's a horse who likes bigger tracks," Griffith said.

Double Halo went within a nostril of beating It's A Dundeel over 1580m at Canterbury when the New Zealander was having his second start in a campaign which ultimately delivered Group One success in Spring Champion Stakes.

"I said to the owners they should get a photo of that race to put on their walls because It's A Dundeel looks like being anything," Griffith said.

"It was just a bob of the head in it that day but It's A Dundeel ran a huge race because he didn't really handle the track.

"It's A Dundeel has gone on and done everything since while our fella has run three or four seconds in some country cups races."

As It's A Dundeel prepares to turn his immense talent to weight-for-age racing in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Griffith will be a happy trainer if Double Halo can make the field for his hometown Cup next month during Scone's two-day carnival.

"I was hoping to have in him ready for the Tamworth Cup on Sunday but he's always been about two weeks behind for that," Griffith said.

"But if he does alright at Canterbury and if I can get a 1400-metre into him then you never know he might get to the Scone Cup."