Country-trained stayer Rentarossa is building a foundation for a defence of his Bagot Handicap crown at Flemington in the New Year.
The six-year-old scored a courageous win in this year’s Bagot despite injuring his off-foreleg tendon in the early stages of the 2800-metre features.
He was off the scene for 10 months but has pleased trainers Terry and Karina O’Sullivan as he works up to another assault on the feature on January 2.
“He hurt a tendon but at this stage he seems to be back going okay,” Terry O’Sullivan said.
Rentarossa was well beaten at his three comeback runs last month and is now homing in on his right distance range in Saturday’s Western Health Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
O’Sullivan said he wanted to get the miles into Rentarossa’s legs to give him his best chance of repeating his Bagot success.
“Hopefully we will get another run or two into him before the Bagot,” O’Sullivan said.
Last year Rentarossa suddenly found form with an upset win at $21 over 2400 metres at Caulfield on Boxing Day and he started at $20 when he landed the Bagot when ridden by Darren Gauci.
After the Bagot, Gauci reported that he feared Rentarossa had gone amiss early in the race when he was reluctant to take part in the event.
“He didn’t want to go and I thought `Something’s wrong here’ but as the race went on he warmed into it nicely, creeping up and creeping up on the inside when the openings were coming,” Gauci said at the time.
Rentarossa was lame after the Bagot and the O’Sullivans have been patient with him in the hope of reviving his staying career.
“He’s getting a decent foundation but he’s got to get to 2400 metres before he’s ready to fire, that’s for sure,” O’Sullivan said.
Nicholas Hall, who has ridden Rentarossa twice for two unplaced runs 2-1/2 years ago, takes the reins again on Saturday.
Warrnambool galloper Full Peal, who has won six of his 13 starts including his last four in a row, is odds-on favourite at $1.85 to maintain his winning streak.
Abitofado ($6.50), Luckyi’mbarefoot ($7), Right Fong ($7.50) and Jeuneys End ($8.50) are the others under double-figure odds while Rentarossa is at $41.
AAP TURF
