Almost a year after her successful hit-and-run mission for the AJC Australian Oaks, New Zealand mare Daffodil is back to try to plunder two of Sydney's feature weight-for-age races this autumn.She begins with Saturday's Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill two weeks before the $2.25 million BMW (2400m) at the same track.Daffodil goes into the Ranvet after two starts at home which have produced a sparkling first-up win over 1100 metres on February 20 followed by a gallant third to Mufhasa in the Gro

Almost a year after her successful hit-and-run mission for the AJC Australian Oaks, New Zealand mare Daffodil is back to try to plunder two of Sydney's feature weight-for-age races this autumn.

She begins with Saturday's Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill two weeks before the $2.25 million BMW (2400m) at the same track.

Daffodil goes into the Ranvet after two starts at home which have produced a sparkling first-up win over 1100 metres on February 20 followed by a gallant third to Mufhasa in the Group One Fairdale Classic (1600m) eight days later.

Trainer Kevin Gray said Daffodil had travelled and settled in like a professional and he was looking forward to the Ranvet.

"She travelled over well and has settled in very well," Gray said.

"Her form coming here is good and she is extremely fit.

"I ran her in the 1100-metre race rather than give her a trial and then in the Group One race there was nothing going home better than her.

"She's done the mileage, she did that before her first run and I expect her to run well but it is a tough field."

Daffodil was third elect with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday behind Theseo and Rangirangdoo who thrilled racegoers with their tooth-and-nail finish to the Chipping Norton Stakes.

Theseo won the battle and was at $2.90 with Rangirangdoo at $4 and Daffodil $8.

Rangirangdoo has had one try at 2000 metres when unplaced in the Mackinnon Stakes in the spring but that was at the end of his preparation.

Trainer Chris Waller changed tack this week, deciding to give him a true test at the distance before he comes back to the 1600 metres of the Doncaster.

Daffodil's trip last year was Gray's first venture racing a horse outside New Zealand but once she proved her class it was obvious she could race against the best.

However, things did not go well in the spring with Daffodil an unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Cup before a battering in the Melbourne Cup where she finished 11th.

"It was very disappointing," Gray said.

"She nearly went down on her nose and would have been a lot closer."

At 72, Gray thinks he might be ready to retire from training horses but there is still unfinished business with Daffodil who he hopes to bring back in the spring.

"A lot of things can go wrong between now and then but all going well she'll be back for the Cox Plate and another go at the Melbourne Cup," Gray said.

Daffodil is adept on any surface so the projected firm track on Saturday is of no concern to her trainer.

"The best horses handle anything," he said.

"And she is one of the best I've had."