Trainer David Hayes says the Sandown Cup has come around at the right time for his emerging stayer Reprisal.Hayes said the 3200m event looked an ideal target for the Galileo six-year-old who has been running against better stayers during the spring."It is his first try at the distance but his lead-up form has been very good for a race like this," Hayes said.Reprisal has 53.5kg in the Cup with English stayer Saptapadi, who finished 16th in the Melbourne Cup, heading the weights with 60kg.Norsqui,

Trainer David Hayes says the Sandown Cup has come around at the right time for his emerging stayer Reprisal.

Hayes said the 3200m event looked an ideal target for the Galileo six-year-old who has been running against better stayers during the spring.

"It is his first try at the distance but his lead-up form has been very good for a race like this," Hayes said.

Reprisal has 53.5kg in the Cup with English stayer Saptapadi, who finished 16th in the Melbourne Cup, heading the weights with 60kg.

Norsqui, winner of what is regarded as the Melbourne Cup consolation, the Lavazza Long Black (2800m) on the same day, is next on 55.5kg along Olympic Win who ran third in that race.

Reprisal has won twice this year including three starts ago when he won over 2200 metres in restricted company at Warwick Farm on October 3.

He was competitive when fourth in a much harder Listed Tattersall's Club Cup (2400m) and on Derby Day at Flemington was beaten nearly 10 lengths when sixth in the Group Three Lexus Stakes (2500m) won by Niwot who finished eighth in the Melbourne Cup.

"He was very progressive in the Lexus and it looked like he was looking for two miles (3200m) as well," Hayes said.

"This campaign we were hoping he would go through his classes thinking one of these late spring staying races would be good for him and on Saturday it looks winnable."

Saptapadi is also entered for Saturday's Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m).

The Sandown meeting is the last of Melbourne's feature race meetings of the spring.

The Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) for three-year-olds has attracted one of the biggest entries for the program with 21 nominations.