Antonio Giuseppe will target the Doncaster Mile and not the Sydney Cup
Antonio Giuseppe will be redirected to the Doncaster Mile in preference to the Sydney Cup over twice the distance.
Trainer Chris Waller said on Tuesday he did not believe the four-year-old, who was the Sportsbet’s $6 equal Sydney Cup favourite alongside Tavago, had had the right preparation for the 3200 metres on April 8.
He will instead head to the Doncaster (1600m) a week earlier and probably wear blinkers.
“We have decided that Antonio Giuseppe will run in The Star Doncaster Handicap on April 1 in preference over the Schweppes Sydney Cup on April 8,” Waller said in a statement.
“Whilst it will be at some stage my intention go back to 2400 and beyond, I don’t feel that he has had the right preparation to do so this autumn.
“I therefore feel at this stage of his career, he is better suited kept at the shorter distances.
“We will also endeavour to put blinkers on him in the Doncaster providing he works well in them.”
Runner-up in the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) in the spring, Antonio Giuseppe won his first start this campaign over 1500m on February 18 then finished second to Tavago in the Group Three Sky High Stakes (2000m) on March 11.
On Saturday he raced over 2000m again, finishing fourth in the Group One Ranvet Stakes won by Our Ivanhowe.
Tavago, who runs in Saturday’s Group One BMW, is now the outright market leader at $4.60 with Sportsbet.com.au for the Sydney Cup while Antonio Giuseppe is a $15 chance in the Doncaster with Le Romain the $6 favourite.
