Sydney stayer Fiveandahalfstar will have a strong gallop today to prepare him for the next four weeks of group one racing.
The 3-year-old has had what amounts to a brief holiday for him, having not raced since his second to Super Cool in the Australian Cup at Flemington last Saturday week.
He will run in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill this Saturday, with plans to back up the next three Saturdays in the Rosehill Guineas, the BMW and Australian Derby over the carnival.
Trainer Anthony Cummings said he had no concerns about the gelding's programme. "You can either work them a lot or race them a lot," Cummings said yesterday.
"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), 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.
There were 13 entries taken on Monday for the Ranvet, 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 after his return to form in New Zealand.
-AAP