A revelation in the staying ranks this autumn, Mr Monaco remains a solid favourite to give Ciaron Maher a fourth Sydney Cup despite drawing the outside gate.
But if he is to be upstaged, it might be by one of his barn mates, with Piggyback and Juja Kibo both presenting with strong credentials for the two mile contest.
A European import in just his second Australian preparation, Mr Monaco has showed grit and stamina to post tough wins at his past two starts, especially in the Manion Cup (2400m) when he travelled wide throughout and still packed too many punches.
Maher’s Sydney foreman, Jo Gerard-Dubord, says that augurs well for the gelding’s ability to run the 3200m journey out strongly on Saturday, while he has also taken heart from the 2024 Sydney Cup victory by Circle Of Fire, who was successful from a similar draw.
“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.”
While Mr Monaco hasn’t raced over 3200m, Gerard-Dubord has no distance doubts, pointing to the horse’s effort to overcome a tough run 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 had her final lead-up in Tancred Stakes (2400m), finishing fifth to Aeliana in a weight-for-age performance expected to have her well-seasoned for her grand final.
Gerard-Dubord said she had returned a stronger mare this time around and gave every indication she would see out the journey, especially with a 4kg drop 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 rounds out Maher’s squad and while he arrives with a string of minor placings beside his name, Gerard-Dubord says the five-year-old has needed racing to get him fit.
“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 hasn’t budged at the top of markets and remains a $5 favourite, with Juja Kibo at $13 and Piggyback an $18 chance.
