Revitalised import Ibicenco will go to Sydney for the Group 1 $400,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 5. And if he wins that race and gets into the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup fields he will run in both races, reports Racing Network.
The six-year-old entire has been a revelation this preparation after initially looking a one-paced two-miler when he first came to Australia.
“Peter (trainer, Peter Moody) has worked his magic with another import, putting some speed into him after a full preparation,” Managing owner Terry Henderson told Racing Network today.
“He’s flying and he will definitely go to Sydney for The Metropolitan.
"It doesn’t look the strongest field you’ve seen and he’s in good form and the trip is ideal.
"I really think he will be highly competitive and they’ll know he’s there,” Henderson added.
Ibicenco caught the eye in last Saturday’s strangely run Group 3 $150,000 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) when he came from a long way back, and against the pattern of the race, charged home to run eighth behind Mr O’Ceirin.
“If he won up there he’ll come straight back and if he makes the Cup fields he’ll definitely run in them,” he added.
When he first got to Australia Ibicenco looked very one-paced, but still managed to win the 3200-metre Sandown Cup.
After a break under Moody’s care he was able to win the 1700-metre Heatherlie Handicap first-up – something that would have seemed impossible six months ago.