The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained two-year-old stamped himself as among the best of his age in New Zealand with a gritty third placing in January's Karaka Million at Ellerslie, having raced three wide for the trip after starting from all but the outside barrier.
Dal Cielo hasn't raced since the Karaka Million and missed some work with a
hoof niggle last week, but galloped well on Thursday morning, according to
Bruce Perry, who manages the colt for Lib Patagna and the Homebush Partnership
No 5 Syndicate."Murray and Andrew are pretty happy with him," Perry said.
"I see he's the favourite, which came as a bit of a surprise, but he's drawn well and if he can get a decent run, he should be right there. It was a great effort in the Karaka Million, considering the run he got.
"If he did happen to win, he does hold a nomination for the ATC Sires' Produce and given our association with his sire Per Incanto, we'd love to take him to Sydney and give him his chance there, but that's the dream plan. Everything would have to go perfectly for him on Saturday."
The logical next domestic target for Dal Cielo, should he not win on Saturday, would be the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni on March 28, a race Perry is lining up for last-start Matamata Breeders' Stakes runner-up Nahema, who races for similar connections.
Petagna will also have an interest in Sydney on Saturday with the Baker and Forsman-trained Wellington Cup winner Maygrove making his Australian debut in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m).
"They are really happy with him," Perry said. "He trialled last week. Hugh Bowman rode him and he was pleased. The horse has thrived since he got over there."
Safely through Saturday's race, Maygrove will tackle theGr.3 Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on March 21, with the Gr.2 Chairman's Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on April 4 likely to be his lead-up to the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11. - NZ Racing Desk
