Murray Baker has been pleased with the progress made by Bonneval and Lizzie L'Amour ahead of today's Gr.2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.
"They're both going well, but it's hard to know how they'll go first-up," he said. "Bonneval will be better once she gets over more ground and Lizzie L'Amour is a good staying mare who can run well fresh."
Both mares are on a course toward the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup while the stable's Gr.1 VRC Derby hope Weather With You made a promising start with a runner-up finish over 1400m at Sandown on Wednesday.
"Obviously he needs further and he's by Teofilo, who is a terrific sire and we're hoping he makes the grade," said Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman.
Meanwhile, New Zealand-bred galloper He's Our Rokkii will strip a fitter horse in today's Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. The son of Roc de Cambes has benefited from his resuming run for fourth in the Gr.2 P. B. Lawrence Stakes behind Hartnell last month.
"He had a really good spring last year and then he had a flat autumn," co-trainer Ben Hayes said. "So then we just turned him out, reset him, and from his first-up run it looks like he's come back to his old spring form.
"We're really happy with him and think he's a really good chance on Saturday. He's drawn barrier one so you'd imagine he'll get a good run."
- NZ Racing Desk