A standout performer among stayers this autumn, Mr Monaco stays the clear favourite to deliver Ciaron Maher a fourth Sydney Cup even after copping the widest barrier.
However, should he get beaten, it could come at the hands of a stable companion, as both Piggyback and Juja Kibo bring impressive qualifications to the two-mile showdown.
In his second Australian campaign after arriving from Europe, Mr Monaco displayed toughness and endurance with gritty victories in his latest two outings, particularly in the Manion Cup (2400m) where he raced wide the entire trip yet still overpowered the opposition.
Ciaron Maher’s Sydney foreman, Jo Gerard-Dubord, believes that performance bodes well for the gelding handling the 3200m distance stoutly on Saturday, and he draws confidence from Circle Of Fire’s 2024 Sydney Cup win out of a comparable gate.
“When Circle Of Fire won it, he had a similar trip to what Mr Monaco did at Rosehill last start. He was three-wide and working a lot of the way,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“And not dissimilar to Mr Monaco, Circle Of Fire was a genuine stayer. When you get to these races, if you can stay it’s a big advantage because half the field won’t be able to stay the trip.”
Although Mr Monaco lacks prior experience at 3200m, Gerard-Dubord holds no fears about the trip, citing the gelding’s resilience despite a rough ride last time.
“Last start, even though it was 2400 metres, he was wide, and he probably ran 2600. If anything, he was the strongest of them all through the line so that won’t be an issue,” he said.
Piggyback tackled her last preparation race in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), placing fifth behind Aeliana in a weight-for-age event that should have her primed for the big one.
Gerard-Dubord noted the mare has come back improved this preparation and appears set to stay the distance, particularly with her allocation down to 53kg.
“She’s been handicapped at what she was at the start of the prep, and I think she has become a better horse since then. She is very well placed at the weights,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“The Tancred is usually a good lead-up run for the Sydney Cup in terms of timing and the quality of the field, and she was very good in the Tancred.
“The two miles, I think she will stay it, and she’s had the grounding for it, but it is more of a question mark. She is fit, she has a light weight and a good gate, so she will get every chance to run the trip.”
Juja Kibo completes Maher’s team, entering with several minor placings to his credit, but Gerard-Dubord explains the five-year-old required racing to reach peak condition.
“He is a horse who takes a lot of work and a lot of racing,” he said.
“It has been the target from day one, the Sydney Cup, and the plan was to run in the Chairman’s and back up in the Sydney Cup. He backed up well last prep (when third in the Metropolitan).
“The other day, he lacked that killer punch, but I think it was related to fitness, and he’s rock-hard fit now.”
Mr Monaco holds firm as the market leader at $5, followed by Juja Kibo at $13 and Piggyback at $18.
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