Chris Waller believes Al Aabir has returned a better horse this preparation and can atone for a luckless last start defeat when he tackles the Listed Winter Cup on his home track.
The four-year-old was held up behind a wall of horses in the straight before eventually getting clear and steaming home for a close third behind Outlandos and Sir Lamorak over 2400m at Rosehill two weeks ago.
While Al Aabir will have the bar raised to stakes company for the first time on Saturday, Waller is convinced the lightly-raced gelding is ready for the challenge.
“Al Aabir was very unlucky last start but seems to have gone to a new level this preparation,” Waller said.
“On Saturday, the conditions, barrier draw (three) and distance all look to suit and therefore he should be very hard to beat.”
Al Aabir is a $3.20 unibet favourite to deliver Waller back-to-back Winter Cups (2400m) following the win by Irish Sequel last year.
He will also be represented in the race by topweight Desert Icon and dour staying mare Shameless Miss and expects both to be competitive.
Desert Icon has been slightly below par in two runs since his excellent first-up second in the Hawkesbury Cup, but Waller has toyed with his training regime and added blinkers for the first time.
“Desert Icon has been racing OK. We have mixed his work up since his last run, including a bit of jumping which has seen him bouncing on and off the track so if that is any guide, I think we can see him improve,” he said.
“Shameless Miss seems to have come back better this preparation and is getting up to a more suitable distance on Saturday.
“It would be nice to see her run top-three and gain some important black-type.”
Shameless Miss was doing her best work late when coming from near-last to finish just over three lengths from Bois D’Argent in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) last start and has a strong 2400-metre record with two wins and a placing from four attempts at the journey.
