Bart Cummings has tinkered with the gear on Sirmione to try to bring out the best in the dual group one winner in Saturday's Cox Plate.
Cummings, who is after his fourth win in the weight-for-age championship, has taken the Norton bit off and put a lugging biton the reigning Mackinnon Stakes and Australian Cup winner.
The master trainer pulled off a huge upset with Sirmione last spring when, as a $61 chance, he stormed home to win the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day, beating Cox Plate rivals Princess Coup and Zipping.
That came after he had finished 15th, 10th and 12th at his previous three starts.
He showed what he was capable of again in the autumn with a runaway victory over Cox Plate equal favourite Princess Coup in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Cummings acknowledges the Encosta De Lago 5-year-old's form is superior at Flemington, whereas he is yet to run a place in four appearances at the Valley.
But Cummings said Sirmione's gallop on Tuesday morning with track rider Joe Agresta aboard was the best he had worked at the inner-city course.
"I'm quite happy. He's definitely improving," he said.
"It looks pretty open this year. There is no outstanding weight-for-age horse in it with Weekend Hussler not running."
And while respecting Princess Coup and Samantha Miss, he queried Princess Coup not having raced at Moonee Valley before and Samantha Miss stepping up to weight-for-age for the first time.
"I don't know about the Cox Plate but Samantha Miss is a big, strong filly and keeps winning like a champion against her own age. She's very good."
