West Of Africa already has one Cup win in the bag this campaign and he will be bidding to add another when he heads to Scone chasing qualification for the Big Dance.
The gelding was a devastating winner of the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January when he unleashed a whirlwind finish from near-last to blouse his rivals.
He has continued to race consistently, placing in three of his subsequent four starts and while he is closer to the end of his preparation than the beginning, co-trainer Rob Archibald is seeing only positive signs at home.
“We have just tried to space his runs as best we can but he has been up for a while,” Archibald said.
“That is always a little query. It’s going to come to an end at some stage, but at home he seems to be holding his form well.”
West Of Africa has been the subject of early market support, backed from $11 into $6.50.
A two-time winner over the 1600m journey of Friday’s Scone Cup, he has drawn barrier 13, a gate Archibald believes will suit the backmarker.
“He’s got a wide draw which I don’t think will worry him as he’s a horse that gets back and runs on,” he said.
“The Scone track, we feel, will suit him because it has a big, long straight.
“He’s going well and of all our chances, he is probably one of the main ones.”
West Of Africa will be joined in the Scone Cup (1600m) by stablemates Port Lockroy and Redstone Well, while Might Ulysses is a dual acceptor for the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) a day later.
Archibald says they are leaning towards the latter with Mighty Ulysses in the hope the shorter trip will ensure it is run at a genuine speed.
“We are leaning towards the 1300 metre race. We are just trying to find a bit of confidence with him and help him settle a little bit behind a good tempo,” Archibald sad.
“But we are still looking at both races and are still undecided.”
Port Lockroy, who captured the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in November, is top weight with 59.5kg, while Redstone Well is dropping back in journey after disappointing at his recent middle-distance runs.
“Port Lockroy, he’s a Group One winner so it’s hard to discount him even though he’s got a bit of weight,” Archibald said.
“Redstone Well has been tested over 2000 and we feel like he’s not quite seeing it out so we’re giving him a chance back to the mile.”
Both Al Mubhir and Sibaaq have been scratched from the Scone Cup in favour of assignments in Queensland.
