Connections have opted to target the Gosford Gold Cup, aiming to set up Les Vampires for a potential Big Dance campaign in the spring.

The gelding was initially an acceptor for both the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) and the $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Saturday, but has been scratched from The Coast. Co-trainer Adrian Bott explained that the Gold Cup is the better option for his current preparation.

“We started to put him out in trip last start and he did a good job,” Bott said. “He is probably better suited going further out in trip at this stage of his preparation.”

The race also serves as a Big Dance qualifier, which could open up more opportunities for the gelding.

Les Vampires had a strong three-year-old season, including a placing in the 2024 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), before undergoing throat surgery. Since returning, he’s had four excellent runs, including a victory over 1800m at Randwick.

Stablemate New Endeavour will also run in the Gold Cup. He has been consistently racing in stronger grades, with his latest effort a third-place finish in the JRA Plate (2000m) during the Sydney autumn carnival.

“Hopefully that’s the key, keeping him a little bit fresh,” Bott said about New Endeavour, who had a short freshen-up between runs.

Les Vampires’ stablemate, Townsend, will contest The Coast. He finished unplaced at Randwick first-up but Bott expects a much more competitive performance this time.

“Even the mile is short of his best, but you’ll see a big improvement on his first-up run,” Bott said.

Townsend, a winner second-up, is yet to miss a place in three starts over a mile.