Trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock are hoping the first-up credentials of Daily Bugle will come to the fore at Flemington.
A debut winner at Pakenham and a closing fourth in a stakes race at The Valley in two first-up outings, has Daily Bugle as a contender in the $750,000 Inglis Sprint (1200m) on Saturday.
“He’s doing well and we’re happy with him,” de Kock said.
“He’s not going to be at peak fitness for Saturday and his training has been good enough, but it’s a strong field so if we can run in the top five, we will be over the moon.”
De Kock said the stable had learned from the spring that Daily Bugle was a rung, or two short of the best performed three-year-olds.
As a two-year-old Daily Bugle raced in Sydney during the autumn carnival, while in Melbourne last spring Daily Bugle finished third in the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes at The Valley before going on to run tenth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
Daily Bugle was seen twice during Melbourne Cup week, finishing third on each occasion.
De Kock believes Daily Bugle’s best distances are from 1200m to 1400m, but he has not ruled out stepping the colt back up to 1600m.
Daily Bugle won the Mornington Sires’ last year and de Kock has not ruled out a return to that track for the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on March 26
“We’re going to stay away from the premier races, the Group 1’s and try and target some of the money races, the VOBIS races, this prep,” de Kock said.
“He was a cut below the top-class horses last season and in the spring, and if we can be smart about it and target some good prize money race along the way, then he can have a good preparation.
“Saturday’s race, it’s worth a $750,000, so there’s plenty of it to go around, and if we can get some of it, we’ll be pleased.”