Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman could get the chance to turn the tables on the winner and runner-up in the BMW.
Protectionist and Red Cadeaux are among the entries for Saturday’s 2400m Group One race at Rosehill.
Last year’s winner and the highest rated at 115 among the 21 nominations taken on Monday is Silent Achiever with trainer Roger James keen to back the mare up after her unplaced effort in her defence of Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes.
She and the Melbourne Cup trifecta horses will have to contend with To The World, a Group Two winner in Japan and runner-up to champion mare Gentildonna in the Arima Kinen in December.
Although premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has seven entries he is likely to whittle that back to two or three including Who Shot Thebarman to be ridden by his Melbourne Cup jockey Glen Boss.
“Who Shot Thebarman is stepping up to a distance that suits him now and I’m very pleased with him,” Waller said.
“His last run was very good. He and Opinion are both definite runners and I will think about backing up He’s Your Man from the Ranvet.
“He’s trotted up sound today. I was hoping the BMW might be easier. His plan is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and we may just stick to that.”
He’s Your Man finished sixth of the seven runners in the Group One Ranvet won by Contributer .
Silent Achiever finished fourth, just behind Protectionist’s Kris Lees-trained stablemate Lucia Valentina who is also entered for the quick back-up.
Lees would like rain in Sydney for Protectionist who has had two midfield finishes in two starts since his Melbourne Cup win.
The trainer will wait another couple of days before making a final decision on whether he runs on Saturday or waits another two weeks for the Sydney Cup.
“I’d love a bit of give in the ground,” Lees said.
“We’ll keep an eye on the weather and how he works. We’ve got until Wednesday to make the decision.”
Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance will be monitored during the week after coming out of her Epona Stakes second with a bruised heel.
