Ciaron Maher’s import Okita Soushi will launch his spring at Moonee Valley on Saturday as connections look to go one better in this year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The Irish-bred stayer finished third in last year’s Cup and resumes in the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m) before building towards the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.
National assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Okita Soushi was short of peak fitness but will improve with racing.
“Because of his program and where we want to get to, being the Melbourne Cup, this is a nice starting point,” Turnbull said. “He will be in the second half and ideally running up behind them and having a really good blow, being race day.”
The entire missed the autumn after tweaking a suspensory but has been carefully managed back to full fitness. His spring path is expected to progress through the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
Stablemate Go Daddy debuts in the same race, while Detonator Jack runs at the Valley and Running By is likely to head to Morphettville for the Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m).