Racing: Big win today and it could be Ciao to Sydney

As far as quantum leaps go, they do not get much bigger than the one Hasta La Ciao Ciao can make at Te Rapa today.

From a $6500 intermediate sprint to a clash with Alinghi and co. in the A$2 million ($2.17 million) Doncaster Handicap at Randwick at the end of next month.

That's the possibility, albeit a slim one, ahead for the Roger James trained four-year-old after her camp joined 74 others in making the A$825 first nomination payment last week.

Cambridge-based James admits her hopes of actually fronting in the star-studded field on March 28 are remote, at best.

But James is adamant Hasta La Ciao Ciao has the talent to one day live up to the very best.

"I think it's very doubtful that she'll make it to the Doncaster but she's definitely a bright star of the future," said James.

"She had a muscle tear since she last raced so we've had to ease up on her, but I expect her to be hard to beat at Te Rapa."

In her only two raceday starts, Hasta La Ciao Ciao has looked every bit a potential topliner.

She produced a huge first-up effort to win over today's distance of 1200m at Ellerslie last November, then blew her chances next time out at Te Rapa when slow away over the same trip.

If she lives up to her Doncaster rating and wins, as most punters will expect today, James concedes Hasta La Ciao Ciao will keep the slim Randwick dream alive.

But just where she'll head next on that rags-to-riches journey, won't be revealed until she pulls up.

James saddles three other runners today, Le Gris, Marie Curie and Milan, and all are rated winning chances.

Le Gris actually finished third in his last race but you won't see that result in the form guide.

That was the Avondale 1600m which was declared a non-event after most riders failed to hear the false-start siren and carried on as normal.

Le Gris ran like he still had plenty to learn but James saw enough that day to convince him that he'll relish the extra 500m and the addition of blinkers.

He also expects Marie Curie to improve dramatically on her debut fourth to Missy Elliot at Te Aroha earlier this month.

Milan has the talent to win the progressive 2100m but has a tough job jumping from the 17 gate with 57kg on his back.

A safer bet could be another by Pentire, the Richard Coxon trained Walsburgs Dream.

A half-sister to a potential middle distance star in stablemate Desert Flight, Walsburgs Dream has come back a much stronger horse this time in.

Her intermediate win at Rotorua three starts back was impressive and she was trapped wide throughout next time out when a close-up fourth to the exciting Highflying on this course on February 5.

Walsburgs Dream didn't have a lot of luck last time out either when fourth again to Madame Shinko at Matamata.

Coxon only hopes rider Cameron Lammas can get Walsburgs Dream some cover before the first bend today.

If he can, her work over the last week suggests she'll be tough to beat.