Well-travelled gelding Dao Dao will use Saturday's Expressway Stakes at Rosehill as a launching pad to another international campaign.Michael Hawkes, who co-trains the six-year-old in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, confirmed Dao Dao would again be aimed at the Champions Mile (1600m) in Hong Kong.The gelding finished eighth to Good Ba Ba in the 2008 Champions Mile and was a close third to Sight Winner in the same event last April.He has not raced since but tuned up for his re

Well-travelled gelding Dao Dao will use Saturday's Expressway Stakes at Rosehill as a launching pad to another international campaign.

Michael Hawkes, who co-trains the six-year-old in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, confirmed Dao Dao would again be aimed at the Champions Mile (1600m) in Hong Kong.

The gelding finished eighth to Good Ba Ba in the 2008 Champions Mile and was a close third to Sight Winner in the same event last April.

He has not raced since but tuned up for his return with a recent barrier trial win.

"We were getting ready to take him over for the Mile race in Hong Kong in December but he got sick so we had to tip him out," Hawkes said.

"We're getting him ready to come back to the Champions Mile this year.

"He is only lightly-raced and he's a lovely horse."

Dao Dao began his career in Sydney where his early runs included a second to subsequent multiple Group One winner Sniper's Bullet.

He then spent a season campaigning in Hong Kong before returning to the Hawkes' stable and claiming the Listed Royal Parma Stakes at Rosehill in April last year.

Dao Dao has missed a place just once in four first-up runs and Hawkes says he is fit enough to be competitive in the Expressway.

"He's forward enough for Saturday and he's done well, although the barrier draw is always important," he said.

The Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) heralds the unofficial start of the autumn carnival in Sydney and recent winners include Burdekin Blues, Mentality, Court's In Session, Lonhro and Tie The Knot.

There are 12 nominations for the feature this year headed by Manikato Stakes winner Danleigh, Group Two winner Rangirangdoo, Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Gathering and the Anthony Cummings-trained Prima Nova.

Cummings also entered George Main Stakes winner Road To Rock but indicated he wouldn't run and would instead be given another barrier trial ahead of his resumption.

David Payne is also set to have just one runner in Centennial Park as he is favouring saving three-year-old More Than Great for the Royal Sovereign Stakes a week later.