Trainer Luke Price is confident Count De Rupee can pick up where he left off when he commences a new preparation on Sunday.
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The three-year-old will contest a 1250 metres benchmark 78 on Randwick's Kensington track, his first race since a Saturday win at Rosehill in January.
The Prices have always held a high opinion of the gelding, with Luke eager to see Count De Rupee challenge for victory.
"He's got a good gate, a good jockey, he ticks all the boxes, he's ready to go," Price said. "I've got no concerns first up and whatever he does on Sunday, he'll just get better."
The trainers have identified October's Golden Eagle as a long-term target for the gelding, with the winter acting as a stepping stone to the lucrative race.
With the $7.5 million feature in mind, Price knows Count De Rupee must register multiple victories to earn a spot in the contest.
"We're hoping he wins as many races as he can, we'd like to go through the grades and if he goes well, there's a chance he could get a run up in Brisbane.
"The big goal is the Golden Eagle in October, we've got a bit of time up our sleeves. We'd like to see him go through the grades and hopefully get him into some stakes races later in the prep."
Joining Count De Rupee in Sydney on Sunday will be Our Bambino, the gelding looking to back up a last-start win at Hawkesbury when he contests a 2400m benchmark 72.
Accoy will start her prep in a 1400m benchmark 72, Price confident both horses will be in the mix for a top-three finish.
Talented Tochi set to build on first-up run
Tochi may not have saluted on Wednesday, but trainer Luke Price is taking plenty of positives from the mare's first-up run at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The five-year-old finished fourth in a 1550 metres benchmark 72. The race was taken out by Chris Waller's Rules Don't Apply, edging Blazing Mac by the finest of margins.
It was Tochi's first race since February, the trainer walking away from the contest pleased with her performance.
"She ran great," Price said. "It was a really good return, the race just didn't pan out how we needed it to.
"She was caught tight on the fence and didn't like being there, but she held herself well and will only get better."
With multiple wins at Canterbury to her name, the Prices hope Tochi will breakthrough for a first Saturday city victory this prep.
While they will step her up in distance, Luke said the mare's next run will likely remain at 1550m.
"Over winter, there's a good chance she will get that win."