WELLINGTON - Bruce Marsh's pulse starts to quicken every time he looks at the $A2.5 million stake for the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick in April.
The Woodville trainer has a growing belief that stable star Cheiron will be a genuine chance in Australia's richest 1600m race.
"I can really see him [Cheiron] getting a slice of the action with luck in the running," Marsh said.
Marsh is not alone in his view that the Doncaster is realistic target for Cheiron, and the horse is high up in the early Doncaster betting charts, at 25-1, a rating which surprised even Marsh.
Cheiron came from last to run second fresh-up in the group one Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham last month and will step up to weight-for-age in the $90,000 Auto Auctions (1400m) at Otaki on Thursday.
"He's a totally different horse to this time last year," Marsh said.
"He was a delicate horse last year and you had to treat him with kid gloves.
"But the travelling [to Brisbane] made him and we can get him hard fit this year without worrying about whether he will be able to take the preparation."
Marsh knows Cheiron might pay a price in the weights if he finishes in the money at Otaki, but is not unhappy at that prospect.
"We want to make sure he has enough weight to get a run in the Doncaster and any black type form will be a help. Every decent horse in Australia will be going for the race and it's no use beating the handicapper if it means you miss a start.
"He's still on the way up and he's no good thing at Otaki in that field, but I'm very happy with the horse and he's ready to go a nice race. He's drawn well and his work has been good."
After Otaki Cheiron is scheduled to run in the open 1600 on the first day at Manawatu, on March 25, and will probably back up in the weight-for-age Awapuni Cup (2000m) a week later.
"He backs up well and both races are on his back doorstep," Marsh said. "And a run over 2000 metres will get the mileage under his belt.
"It's three weeks from the Awapuni Cup to the Doncaster and I wouldn't have any worries about bringing a horse back from 2000 metres for a hard mile at Randwick.
"But we are keeping our options wide open and a lot will depend on how he goes this week."
Cheiron, who has won eight of his 18 races, raced with distinction in Brisbane last winter and will head there again this year, with the Hollindale Cup and Doomben Cup his main targets.
Stablemate After Eight will also run in the Auto Auctions, largely because Marsh has been unable to find suitable races for the horse, and three-year-old Mr Esteem will be a lightweight chance in the premier quality 1200.
Mr Esteem, who ran second to Travellin' Man at Trentham when resuming, has the Queensland Guineas as his long-term target.
Golden Butterfly, who lost her chance in the Tauranga Classic on Saturday with a slow beginning, will be freshened for the $30,000 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Trentham on March 4.
Brian Hibberd will ride Cheiron on Thursday, with Darryl Bradley on Mr Esteem and After Eight. - NZPA
Racing: Cheiron real chance in Doncaster
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