A desire to have first-up winner Matcha Latte peaking for the Spring Champion Stakes in October has shaped preparations for his more immediate assignment.
The three-year-old put himself in contention for a start in the $2 million feature with a determined first-up win in midweek grade on August 10.
Since then, trainer Mark Newnham has kept him fresh, ticking him over with a conditioning barrier trial earlier this month ahead of Saturday’s Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill where he will take on a promising field that includes a quartet of talented Chris Waller-trained colts, led by Osipenko and Conqueror.
“He’s going really well. I just needed to give him a trial to fit in with his program for the Spring Champion with him having that month between runs,” Newnham said.
“He will be forward enough, it’s just a matter of whether it’s too sharp for him, the 1400 metres at Rosehill.
“He won over 1300 first-up and he might be looking for a bit further but it’s the best option to get him to where he needs to be.”
Matcha Latte will follow a traditional route to the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 22 through the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) a fortnight earlier.
Newnham has won the major twice with Maid Of Heaven in 2018 and Shadow Hero a year later, although he is anticipating an even stronger renewal this year following a significant prizemoney injection.
“I’d say the Spring Champion being up to $2 million this year will attract a pretty decent group of horses and hopefully he is among them,” he said.
Matcha Latte will be ridden by Tom Sherry on Saturday and has drawn the inside gate.