Tony Noonan is not underestimating the task confronting Manolo Blahniq at his Australian debut in Sydney on Saturday.
It became a much more daunting assignment after Peter and Paul Snowden scratched Capitalist from last Saturday's Missile Stakes due to the wet track and set their sights on the San Domenico Stakes, which will be run at Rosehill this weekend.
That $150,000 Group 3 event, over 1100 metres, is the race that Noonan has long had in mind for Manolo Blahniq, who will have his first start for the Mornington trainer after crossing from New Zealand.
"There's a Golden Slipper winner in the race and if he comes back in that sort of form he should win," Noonan said of Capitalist.
"Our horse hasn't had a run for six months and this is not his Grand Final."
Noonan does not yet know exactly what will be the major spring target for the colt, who has been fitted up for his return with a couple of trials. After a 760m trial win at Hawkesbury he finished sixth in an 850m trial behind Smart Volatility at Randwick.
The San Domenico will be his first start since failing as the $1.90 favourite in the Karaka Million on January 24, but the start before he impressed when winning the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie.
The son of Jimmy Choux has been in Australia since early in the year, but is yet to see Mornington. He spelled in Queensland and has been based at Todd Rawiller's Warwick Farm stables since arriving in Sydney.
Noonan said the San Domenico would provide some insight into which races Manolo Blahniq might be seen in later in the campaign.
"He's pretty keen-going, so I just want him to relax and get a guide on him," Noonan said of the colt, who will be ridden by Christian Reith and jump from barrier two.
"I'm not sure whether he's a sprinter or a 1400, mile horse, so our first couple of runs will help us work that out.
"He'll go to the Run To The Rose after Saturday then we'll make a decision on whether we go to the Golden Rose or the Danehill Stakes or head to the Guineas Prelude and the (Caulfield) Guineas."
Despite his impressive New Zealand record, Manolo Blahniq opened the $18 outsider in CrownBet's market on the San Domenico, in which he will start from gate two. -racing.com
It became a much more daunting assignment after Peter and Paul Snowden scratched Capitalist from last Saturday's Missile Stakes due to the wet track and set their sights on the San Domenico Stakes, which will be run at Rosehill this weekend.
That $150,000 Group 3 event, over 1100 metres, is the race that Noonan has long had in mind for Manolo Blahniq, who will have his first start for the Mornington trainer after crossing from New Zealand.
"There's a Golden Slipper winner in the race and if he comes back in that sort of form he should win," Noonan said of Capitalist.
"Our horse hasn't had a run for six months and this is not his Grand Final."
Noonan does not yet know exactly what will be the major spring target for the colt, who has been fitted up for his return with a couple of trials. After a 760m trial win at Hawkesbury he finished sixth in an 850m trial behind Smart Volatility at Randwick.
The San Domenico will be his first start since failing as the $1.90 favourite in the Karaka Million on January 24, but the start before he impressed when winning the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie.
The son of Jimmy Choux has been in Australia since early in the year, but is yet to see Mornington. He spelled in Queensland and has been based at Todd Rawiller's Warwick Farm stables since arriving in Sydney.
Noonan said the San Domenico would provide some insight into which races Manolo Blahniq might be seen in later in the campaign.
"He's pretty keen-going, so I just want him to relax and get a guide on him," Noonan said of the colt, who will be ridden by Christian Reith and jump from barrier two.
"I'm not sure whether he's a sprinter or a 1400, mile horse, so our first couple of runs will help us work that out.
"He'll go to the Run To The Rose after Saturday then we'll make a decision on whether we go to the Golden Rose or the Danehill Stakes or head to the Guineas Prelude and the (Caulfield) Guineas."
Despite his impressive New Zealand record, Manolo Blahniq opened the $18 outsider in CrownBet's market on the San Domenico, in which he will start from gate two. -racing.com