Emma-Lee and David Browne are set to give Statuario one final run this campaign as they chase hometown success in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m).

The New Zealand duo relocated to Victoria in 2022 and have called Pakenham home since the start of last season, steadily building their presence.

A Cup win would not only be a milestone for their team but would also spark celebrations at the Garfield Hotel.

“It would be great to win the local Cup,” Emma-Lee Browne said.

“And I reckon the party at the Garfield pub would be wild.

“It’s nice to have runners on the day and being from the area, hopefully it’s a good day.”

Their decision to push on came after Statuario pulled up superbly following his closing third in the Listed Ballarat Cup.

That Ballarat run was a marked improvement on his luckless effort in the Listed Cranbourne Cup.

“It was one of those unfortunate races at Cranbourne where he couldn’t get out,” Browne said.

“He was much better the other day but he probably just peaked late because of that Cranbourne run… but given that, we wouldn’t be here if he’d had two hard runs in a row.”

Weather is the key factor now.

“The horse is very well… but we don’t want to see too much rain on Saturday, so we’re watching the weather closely,” she said.

The wide draw will require tactical adjustment.

“It probably forces our hand to ride him quietly, and I think that is sometimes when he’s at his best.”

Statuario’s staying promise was on show earlier this year when he won at Caulfield before finishing second in the Group 1 South Australian Derby.

The stable will also saddle Bifrost and Rhinoceros across the card.

If you’re placing a bet on the Pakenham Cup meeting, compare Australia’s leading bookmakers at JHR’s betting hub.