By Caryl Williamson

SYDNEY, Sept 1 AAP - Twin Wing has long been a stable favourite with Guy Walter and jockey Jay Ford is also developing a close bond with the veteran gelding.

Ford has ridden the eight-year-old at his past three starts including his Grafton Cup triumph and will be back aboard in Friday's Wyong Gold Cup (2100m).

Prior to his all-the-way win over 2350 metres at Grafton in July, the free-running Twin Wing claimed the Winter Cup (2400m) and ran third in the Stayers' Cup (3200m), both at Rosehill.

"He'll take some catching around the tight turns at Wyong," Ford said.

Twin Wing had four weeks off between the Stayers' Cup and Grafton and goes to Wyong off a seven-week break, a deliberate plan by Walter who believes he races best on the fresh side.

Ford said he rode him trackwork recently and was more than happy.

"I rode him a couple of weeks ago and he seems right on song," he said.

"It's been a long gap between his races but having the breaks between races seems to be working in his favour."

Ford rode Twin Wing twice in the autumn of 2009 but had not been back aboard until their recent association.

The gelding broke a two-year winning drought in the Winter Cup but had several minor placings in between.

Twin Wing will carry 55.5kg, two kilograms less than he did at Grafton with the Chris Waller-trained duo of Snow Alert and Hawk Island above him on 58 and 57.5kg respectively.

Waller said both were likely to run although he initially had reservations about Hawk Island's weight.

"The plan is to run them both in the Wyong Cup," he said.

"I was concerned about the weight for Hawk Island given than he hasn't won an open race yet but they'll probably both run."

Hawk Island has been one of the finds of the winter months with four wins over 2000 metres from his past five starts, all on slow or heavy tracks.

Snow Alert, who prefers firmer surfaces, will be backing up from his win in Saturday's Premier's Cup.

The 1800m race was his first test beyond 1600 metres and he vindicated Waller's belief he could be a stayer of the future.

Snow Alert was TAB Sportsbet's $3.20 favourite on Wednesday ahead of Hawk Island at $3.60 while Twin Wing was rated a $9 chance.

There were 12 acceptances for the Wyong Cup and the same number for the day's other feature, the Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) for fillies and mares.

AJC Australian Oaks winner Once Were Wild is topweight and the early $1.90 favourite for the Mona Lisa as she begins a campaign trainer Gai Waterhouse hopes will lead to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.