Lindsay Park galloper Rise At Dawn will tackle the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill with his trainers confident the race is tailor-made for him.
Co-trainer Will Hayes said the feature had been long targeted as the gelding’s main spring goal, with a favourable inside draw boosting his chances.
“This was our spring grand final,” Hayes said. “It’s an incredible race being restricted to five-year-olds at set weights and penalties. We think he’s going to thrive at the 1800.”
A dual stakes winner, Rise At Dawn has eight wins from 20 starts and strong Sydney form, finishing fourth in the Doncaster Mile and second in the Shannon Stakes.
After placing in the Crystal Mile on Cox Plate Day, Hayes expects him to relish Rosehill’s spacious track.
“He crabbed around the bend at the Valley,” he said. “He’ll be much better suited to the bigger circuit.”