New Zealander Atlante will be out to turn the tables on Dissident in the Randwick Guineas but will also have to overcome fellow kiwi El Roca.
But with the prospect of a firm track, trainer Murray Baker believes Atlante can add another Group One on Saturday to his New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas win.
The Peter Moody-trained Dissident held off Atlante by a head in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on a slow track, something Baker said was against his colt.
“He doesn’t go on a wet track so that makes his last start even better,” Baker said.
El Roca beat Dissident in the Listed Eskimo Stakes (1200m) on February 15 but was a race day withdrawal from their anticipated rematch in the Hobartville after being given an electrolyte treatment outside the time allowed.
Instead the colt had his lead-up against the older horses in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) on Saturday at Warwick Farm where he was beaten just a long head by Terravista.
“That race will top him off,” trainer Trent Busuttin said.
Busuttin has also entered last week’s Wyong winner High Tec in the Guineas (1600m) while Baker has Derby-bound Show The World in the race.
Show The World won the 2100m Group Two Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and Baker admitted the 1600m might be too short.
“He is by High Chaparral out of a Zabeel mare so he will be better when he gets over further,” Baker said.
“It’s hard to get them to peak twice but I’m pleased with him.”
Eurozone and Teronado, fourth and fifth in the Australian Guineas won by Shamus Award, are also among the 20 entries for the Randwick Guineas.
Teronado is in Sydney with his Queensland trainer Bruce Hill pleased with his progress and keen to test him in top company again.
“He ran the fastest final 1400 metres in the Guineas but we had to ride him back from the alley and he was giving too much start to a leader which got an easy run,” Hill said.
Australian Guineas runner-up Criterion is another high-profile nomination for Randwick.
– AAP