Kembla Grange trainer Theresa Bateup will push on with plans for three-year-old filly Monegal to make the metropolitan grade on Saturday.
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Bateup could have started her at the Randwick Kensington track on Wednesday or at Kembla Grange on Thursday, but instead decided to take on the lightweight option in a Benchmark 74 (1400m) at Rosehill.
On Tuesday, Monegal was still an emergency, but Bateup is confident of gaining a start and taking on rivals with proven Sydney form.
"We thought we'd have a throw at the stumps in town," Bateup said.
"We think she can at least be a nice mid-week class horse, there's not a lot of her, but she's got plenty of upside.
"We could have gone to Kembla on Thursday and carried 59 kilograms, or the fillies and mares race at Kensington, but she'd have had 58kg there.
"So she's in the deep end a bit on Saturday, but with only 53kg, we're going to know a bit more about her and we're pretty confident she'll make the field."
Monegal returned from a 13-week spell to win a Class 2 at the Sapphire Coast on June 9, out-sprinting the Jenny Hoy-trained Shipway, with Drake The Pirate a half-length third.
"It was an above race there at Sapphire Coast and she was off the bit a long way, so I was pretty impressed with how she went," Bateup said.
"She gave them a start and finished off well, so when she pulled up nicely we decided we'd try her at Rosehill. She only cost $3000 and I think she's got a lot of racing left in her, because she's certainly got a motor."
Bateup is hoping Rosehill will make it to the soft range, with the track rated a Heavy 8 on Tuesday.
With acceptances finalised on Wednesday, Monegal will take on a number of talented three-year-olds including Chris Waller's England, who was second in a BM78 at Rosehill after two previous wins this preparation.
Consistent Peter and Paul Snowden gelding Charratera has been in the finish in seven of his eight starts, including a second behind No Doubt at Randwick on Saturday. And the Godolphin stable has rising gelding Phaistos and filly Handspun nominated.
Bateup will debut three-year-old gelding Bryan Roy at Kembla Grange on an "educational" assignment over 1000m on Thursday, after one trial earlier this month.
Formerly with Bjorn Baker, three-year-old Smart Missile filly Elenara will have her sixth career start in a BM64 over 1000m at Kembla Grange, having won second start at Orange in December and then a BM58 at Nowra in January.
"She's new to the stable with us, so this will be a bit of a learning curve up in grade," Bateup said. "She'll go back from the good draw, but she got through traffic to win at Orange, so hopefully she'll run nicely here."
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