Classy three-year-old Aichi, who gave trainer Peter Snowden his first stakes win in Melbourne last campaign, is set to deliver even bigger riches for the stable in the autumn.Already nominated for the Group One Newmarket Handicap in March, Aichi could line up in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in two weeks if he can win Sunday's Listed Menere's BMW Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield first-up.It will be the second time in the gelding's eight starts that he has done battle with the older horses afte
Classy three-year-old Aichi, who gave trainer Peter Snowden his first stakes win in Melbourne last campaign, is set to deliver even bigger riches for the stable in the autumn.
Already nominated for the Group One Newmarket Handicap in March, Aichi could line up in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in two weeks if he can win Sunday's Listed Menere's BMW Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield first-up.
It will be the second time in the gelding's eight starts that he has done battle with the older horses after he ran the ill-fated Sunburnt Land to a half-length in the Group Two International Sprint (1100m) on Caulfield Cup day.
At his previous start he pipped Time Thief in the Group Three Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington to give Snowden his first Melbourne feature race victory.
Snowden's son and Melbourne foreman Paul said that Aichi wasn't a big horse but was more mature than he was in the spring.
"He has come back a lot stronger and his work has been A1," Snowden said.
"We have got some nice races picked out for him and it will be interesting to see how he performs first-up."
Snowden said Aichi was a natural competitor and described him as a "little tradesman".
"He is a plain little bay horse who has got a heart as big as himself," Snowden said.
"We just have to place him right.
"He's not fully wound up as he only had a short break after the spring but he looks in great order and I'm sure he will be there somewhere."
A weight advantage over some of the more seasoned sprinters could be significant for Aichi, who is the $3.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
Topweight and $5.50 second favourite Lucky Secret has 60.5kg and is giving Aichi 6.5kg while Let Go Thommo ($15) and Tesbury Jack ($9.50) are giving him 5.5kg and 3.5kg respectively.
Four-year-old Happy Glen ($9.50) has 55kg, a kilo more than Aichi, and is an emerging sprinter also heading to the Oakleigh Plate.
He meets Lucky Secret a massive 5.5kg better for a dead-heat with him for second in last month's Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Lucky Secret has since won the Group Two Carlyon Stakes (1200m) and from barrier one should look the winner for a long way.