Trainer Desleigh Forster has thrown out the challenge to interstate stables, warning they must bring their A-game to beat Cylinder Beach and I’m Belucci at Doomben.
Forster couldn’t have been happier with the pair as they front up for the Group Three Rough Habit Plate on Saturday.
Sydney’s three top stables have five runners between them in the Rough Habit with Chris Waller leading way with three runners – Mackintosh, Trafalgar and Multifacets.
Forster said she had the utmost respect for the visiting trainers but believed her horses had the runs on the board in elite company.
“They are among the best trainers in the world so you wouldn’t be bagging any of their runners,” Forster said.
“But my two have Group One form around them and that means the visitors will have to be right on their game.”
I’m Belucci was second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes last year and Cylinder Beach was a close-up fourth to Press Statement in the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes last winter.
“They haven’t gone backwards in ability since those races,” Forster said.
“I’m Belucci has had little luck since but he is getting back near his best while Cylinder Beach is blooming.”
Cylinder Beach won his last start in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic with I’m Belucci finishing well back in the same race.
“There were excuses for I’m Belucci last start and there isn’t much between the two of them which you can see because they work together,” Forster said.
