You won't see any better bred horses than Volatile Matter at Armidale on Saturday.

The gelding is by champion sire Redoute's Choice out of dual Group One winner and 1998 Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne who won seven of 19 starts under New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon.

As often happens in racing, the now five-year-old Volatile Matter has slipped through the cracks after failing to live up to his regal breeding.

Volatile Matter was bought for $250,000 as a yearling by Patinack Farm and has been prepared firstly by John Thompson in Sydney and later by Wayne Wilkes at Port Macquarie.

After being offered at the Patinack Farm fire sale under the Magic Millions banner and failing to find new owners, the gelding was eventually purchased by Cory Wilson, the son of Barraba trainer Debbie Wilson.

Volatile Matter is raced by sons and daughters of Debbie Wilson.

He steps out first-up on Saturday in the Wicklow Hotel Benchmark 49 Hcp (1100m) with Darren Jones in the saddle.

"He's had a few injury problems during his career and we're just seeing if we can get him going," Wilson said.

"He's a lovely horse, beautiful to do anything with and very well bred."

Wilson has had the gelding in her care for 12 weeks.

And unlike the hustle and bustle of life in a city stable, Volatile Matter is responding to being free to roam in a day paddock.

"He's still got leg problems but up here you can do a lot more with them," Wilson said,

"He's a monster of a horse which doesn't help his legs but he's out in a day paddock free to roam around.

"I've just taken him along slowly. He seems to be going OK.

"He's still a bit big but he's just one of the nicest horses you could ever have in the stable."