Fiveandahalfstar will have a strong gallop on Tuesday morning to prepare him for the next four weeks of Group One racing.
The three-year-old has had what amounts to a brief holiday for him, having not raced since his close second to Super Cool in the Australian Cup lat Flemington last Saturday week.
He will run in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill with plans to back up the next three Saturdays in the the Rosehill Guineas, the BMW and Australian Derby over the carnival.
Trainer Anthony Cummings said he had no concerns about the gelding’s program.
“You can either work them a lot or race them a lot,” Cummings said.
“It does depend on the horse but he’s got a good constitution.
“He needed seven races in eight weeks to get him ready for the Victoria Derby.”
Since proving himself as a genuine stayer by winning the Victoria Derby (2500m) in the spring, Fiveandahalfstar has had three starts, finishing second in all of them with Glen Boss aboard.
He will be reunited with Peter Robl for his Sydney campaign, which Cummings said was always the plan although Boss had hoped to get the chance to win on him.
“It was always the plan that Peter would ride him in Sydney although I think Bossy has some unfinished business,” Cummings said.
There were 13 entries taken on Monday for the Ranvet (2000m) including last year’s winner Manighar and three from the Chris Waller stable – Foreteller, Gatewood and Kelinni.
Recent Auckland Cup winner Sangster has been entered following his return to form in New Zealand.
The winner of the 2011 Victoria Derby, Sangster was given a long spell after he was found wanting in Sydney last autumn.
But his three most recent starts have brought three wins including the Group One International Stakes at Te Rapa and the Group One Auckland Cup.
Up and coming former European stayer Le Roi has been nominated for both the Ranvet and the Listed Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
Trainer Tony McEvoy gave Le Roi and stablemate Pelicano a gallop between races at Canterbury last Wednesday with the latter due to race on Saturday week.
The Hawkes team has entered stayers Maluckyday and Niwot in the Ranvet with both headed to the Sydney Cup.
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