Dollar For Dollar will be out to pick up where he left off when he resumes from a let-up in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.
The Tony McEvoy-trained gelding rose through the ranks during an unbeaten spring, winning twice in South Australia in benchmark races before heading to Victoria.
He won a benchmark-90 at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival, over the course and distance of Saturday’s race, and capped his preparation in the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown.
Dollar For Dollar was taken back to South Australia for his freshen-up after his Sandown win on November 18.
He has been back in Melbourne for just over a week as he continues building up for his Listed race return.
“He’s in great shape,” McEvoy’s Melbourne stable foreman Michael Shepherdson said.
“He’s built up a good record and gone through his grades ideally, and that culminated in a Group Three win last preparation.
“Straight after that race, this was the race in mind for him.”
The Chester Manifold has attracted 19 nominations with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Gold Symphony and Darren Weir-trained Burning Front heading the weights on 60kg.
Dollar For Dollar has 59kg.
Weir has five horses nominated including Ozi Choice and Nikitas who are also entered for the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.
Shepherdson said Dollar For Dollar had been kept nice and happy during the break between races and would have another gallop at Flemington on Tuesday to have him primed for Saturday.
“He had a piece of work the other day and had a nice little blow and we’re just going to do a bit more with him tomorrow morning, not too strong, just to tighten him up and have him ready for Saturday,” Shepherdson said.
Jamie Kah has built a great association with Dollar For Dollar and was aboard the gelding in his four spring starts but will miss Saturday’s race as she is riding at the Gold Coast.
Her rides at the Magic Millions meeting include the McEvoy-trained colt Crockett in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic.
Crockett is at $51 ahead of Tuesday’s barrier draw while stablemate Sunlight shares favouritism with Ef Troop at $4.
